~*~The BSL Graduate/Stalking Thread - NEW YEAR 2011 EDITION~*~ - Page 5

[Nanette56]

Congrats Michelle! What a harrowing birth story! And yet you still DID it! He is beautiful and I hope you are enjoying your baby moon! :joy

[Maurine]

Wow, what a birth story!  CONGRATS!  :)

[LZP]

Hellooooo!!! So sorry that I've been MIA for a million years. I think about you all, and I'm just too tired and lazy to write more often.

So, first, Congrats to all the new baby mamas, through birth, and through pregnancy!!! 

Welcome to the BSLs who have moved on over!!!!!! Wahhoooo!

I will do my best with personals, I can't remember everything that I've been wanting to say over the last ooooh- 3 months- but I'm just oh so tired, my memory just doesnt serve me the way it used to. aaaah motherhood. I really do love it. 

Tear, I stopped feeling post-y while I was preggo too, but I dont know that I could figure out why. Your reasons sound pretty reasonable, and no one would fault you. You've had one of the longest roads in our little group here. lots of hugs to you, and yippeee!! for finding out gender soon. how fun.

Lis, Caleb is adorable, teeth, expensive taste in food, lack of hair and all!

Nanette - big squishy twins! OMG, that is just fabulous- you're doing a great job, mama! I hope those boys turn for you. 

finnegansmom- CONGRATULATIONS!! he is beautiful. he and I share a birthday. :)

jessica_s - very belated congrats to you to. I'm so happy for you!

rcr- did you do the transfer yet? I can't get back tot he previous page with this format. when it happens, sending you super sticky vibes, and giving you a non-jinxing premature welcome over here. :)

Carlyle- havent seen you in a while. Hope you're well with little Maggie and big sister Nell!!

YYYM- you never post here either, good thing I stalk you on FB!

Maurine, I dont know that I congratulated you, so it's really late, but congrats, mama! what a long time coming. I remember you from te TTC forums back when we had started TTC, around the same time I think (the One). big hug.

Lyndzies, hope being back at work is getting easier to tolerate. It's not great, but like you said, the benefits it provides to your family are worth it. Thanks for sharing photos of your beautiful girl.

I know I have forgotten many ladies, and many comments to which I wanted to respond. I'm really sorry.

Now AFM - I'll TRY to be brief. 

AV is doing well. She was 7 months the day before my b-day, which was the 19th. I cannot BELIEVE how quickly this time has gone. Too fast. DH and I are still getting the hang of it. seems like as soon as we feel like pros, she throws something new at us. We've been dealing with sleep issues for months now. Not really issues- but I just dont get a good night's sleep anymore. To my dismay, we've moved her into her crib, since none of us, including AV, were sleeping well while co-sleeping. she was being awakened by us very frequently, then wanting to nurse back to sleep, like every 45 minutes. seriously. it was a long month before we made the tearful decision to move her. Now at least she is only waking every 45 minutes for the first 3 hours (that's another story...), then sleeps in 3 hour increments. she still wants to eat every 3 hours at night, I dont know if it's habit or hunger. I dont really mind that though, I miss her at night, and i know that our nursing time will come to an end someday... so I'm in no hurry to cut out the night nursing while I can handle it. 

she is sitting up, working on crawling, fighting sleep at first, fighting naps- though she used to be a fantastic napper. (I could put her down, say, "night night." and she would sleep for 2 hours... not so anymore!)

and most importantly- I QUIT MY JOB!!!! I phased myself out, worked from home for 3 weeks then gave my notice and stopped working 2 weeks ago. I'm a full time SAHM now!  It doesnt quite feel real right now, I thought it would be a much more momentous event. I still feel like I'm taking extended vacation time from work. I have to remind myself that i should do things around the house, since i really have no excuse now! It is fantastic to be able to spend so much time with AV, especially since it seems like she is changing every day now! she screeches in excitement when she sees me or DH, screams along with loud noises, including children and loud music. its adorable. we're working on the sleeping thing. I'm trying to meet other moms around here that are like-minded, since i dont have many friends with kids around here. or any, really. 

I feel like while I was working, I was just surviving. Just making it through each day, and barely keeping work or home life together. Now, I feel like we're working toward recovering, but I'm still behind on cleaning and laundry. just ONCE i'd like to be caught up!! dont think that will happen.

I miss you all. Maybe if AV gets better at sleeping, and I stop being a vegetable during her short naps, I will come back and post more often.  also, i feel a little out of sorts in my former DDC. I was due in August, but had AV in July. in the beginning, it was a vast difference between what she was doing and what other August DDCers were doing. But I didnt want to barge into July. silly, yes, but i felt like i didnt have a place to go with my concerns except the general forums, where I didnt often get answers. so silly. must have been in a cloud of postpartum hormones. 

OK, I thnk that's enough for now, I need a snack. DH is traveling again, and well... i eat snacks while he's away. :) 

love to all, hope everyone is doing fantastically!!!

[Maurine]

LZP - Nice to hear from you!  Sorry that AV is having sleeping problems.  I hope they iron themselves out!  I am due in early Aug (this year) and sometimes I worry that I should be posting or keeping up with the July DDC.  Maybe I'll start, just to sort of get to know people there.  (And can I just say, what a wonderful problem to have...which DDC to post in!)

That's great that you quit your job.  Hooray!  Don't worry too much about catching up on housework.  You're only 2 weeks into it!  It will probably never feel "done" and no one said that you were obligated to do it all as a SAHM.  Right now my DH is a SAHH (stay at home husband) and he does all the housework, but not really.  We just deal with a little dirt in the corners.  :)

[lisko15]

Hi All!

Michelle - Congrats on Henry's arrival! He's so cute and chubby... reminds me of Caleb, but 1 pound heavier! I'm glad that all went well with your birth, even though it wasn't what you'd hoped for. Mine wasn't either, but at that point all that matters is a healthy baby in your arms at the end!

Liz - So good to hear from you!!!! I'm happy to hear that you and DH are able to swing you not working. Enjoy being home with AV! All those milestones you'll get to see firsthand are priceless!

Sorry to hear about the sleeping issues. Caleb had a setback a couple weeks ago when he cut his first tooth. Is AV showing any signs of teeth? He's cutting his 2nd tooth now, but it seems to be bothering him a little less at night. He still wakes to nurse at night (and was doing every 3 hours during the tooth eruption). He is so distracted to nurse these days that I enjoy the night nursing, since he actually NURSES for longer than 4 minutes.

I forget how close in age AV and Caleb are really - he was 8 months yesterday. He is also trying to crawl, can get back to sitting from his tummy, and can pull himself up at the bathtub (for some reason only there), though not the safest place!

TEAR!!!! I'm awaiting your u/s and hopeful gender announcement today!!!!!!! I hope you get there safely with this crazy weather!

Hi to everyone else (Sorry this isn't longer, but I dislike posting in the new format... all my type is delayed for some reason! )

[Nanette56]

Liz- that's sooooo cool that you're an SAHM now! Enjoy your first few weeks with her full time, and catch some z's! The housework will still be there when you feel up to it  ;)

OMG, I just updated our first page and realized: I'm next and I'M NOT READY YET!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!

I'm starting to freak out a lot these days, feeling completely and utterly unprepared. Doesn't help that my OB is driving me CRAZY with his testing: "Oh, your BP is a little high. Time for a 24 hour urine culture and every blood test known to man. Ok everything's fine, you don't have Pre-E, but your platelet levels have dropped a bunch. Go re-take that blood test. Ok your platelet levels went up, so everything looks ok (for now)."  I wonder what he's going to frighten me with next visit? All my NST's have been golden (I do one every week now).

The peri, on the other hand is so laid back that THAT'S stressing me out. "Your BP is a little high, watch your diet, and take some more folic acid."  "Your hands are swollen and numb? Go stick them in ice water, and stop eating so much salt." "Baby A is still transverse, but he can turn right up to the minute you go into labor, so keep swimming and seeing your chiropractor."

I think I'm just THAT hard to please...

Anyway, going to see the peri today, and get an update on baby weights. 34 weeks today- holy cow!

[Maurine]

Tear - Not sure where you'll be posting, but how did the u/s go?  What's the gender?  :)

[Tear78]

Originally Posted by Maurine 

Tear - Not sure where you'll be posting, but how did the u/s go?  What's the gender?  :)

lol, I've been dying to post about this all day, but I can't reach my sister and I refuse to let her know over Mothering. I think she's without power, cause they got a lot of snow last night. I'll say this much: our baby is healthy-looking and adorable and wonderful!

Nanette, how exciting for being next! You'll be wonderful! How did your appointment go today?

Lis, wow Caleb is getting teeth already! How are you guys liking the snow today? It was very slippery this morning on the way to the OB, but it's beautiful.

Liz, it's so good to hear from you hon! I'm sorry about the sleeping issues, that sounds really tough. Hopefully now that you're a SAHM (yay!!!!!) that will get easier. I'm so excited for you!

Maurine, how are you feeling? Any recent ultrasounds? Are you going to try to find out the gender?

I'm still on and off nauseous (wth?!) but I still will take that as a positive thing for having a healthy baby. I have to go now because I'm exhausted from today. I'll post as soon as Carlyle knows!

[lisko15]

Tear - for a healthy and adorable baby!!!!

But c'mon... Carlyle, I hope your power gets back on soon!!!!!

[Tear78]

It's a girl!!!!

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by Tear78 

It's a girl!!!!

Congrats Tear!!!!!!    So awesome!!!!!  Hope all is well!!!

Maurine - Just thought I'd say hi to you too. I had seen that Tear had posted over on another thread and clicked on her other post and ended up here.  Haven't been on this one before, but then I saw your name and wanted to say Hi and send you a !   I miss you both, but am so glad you are on the other side now!!!!  Hope you and the little bean are doing well!!!

[lisko15]

A girl!!!!

How exciting! Little girls are so much fun... with the clothes and the hair (before they get an opinion about them, of course)!

She will be in good company with her 3 girl cousins!

I'm glad to hear that all is well. Does "she" have a name that you and DH are sharing?

Everyone is so quiet...

Here's an extra cute Caleb...

[Jane]

Congrats, Tear!

In my life - still quite nauseated, and tired.  Doing weekly ultrasound until I'm released to the midwife.  Here's my 8w0d ultrasound. 

[LZP]

Thanks for all the congrats on our new life! I really reeeeeally hope that we can make it work indefinitely, though DH still has hopes that I'll go back at some point to something part time. However, i might not need to, since tomorrow I'm starting an intensive class to become a CLC. It might help to add a little to the family budget, and it's something i've become passionate about.

Jane- what an adorable little 8w bean!

Tear - AAAAAHHHH!! congrats! little girls ARE so much fun. Though, AV still doesnt have enough hair to do anything with it. Not even small barrettes stay in her wispy hair. Sounds like you finally got a chance to speak to Carlyle! You and DH must be thrilled- and I have the same question that you'll be getting from her on out- do you have any names that you're sharing? Does it feel even more real now? I am so happy for you, getting to see that healthy little GIRL again! Have you two started planning a nursery, or any other especially baby-centric things? 

Lis - OOOOMG, Caleb is so cute. what a little man. I think AV has been working on some teeth for a while. it seemed they were bothering her for about a month, but none ever cut through. Now nothing seems to be bothering her, and they still look the same.

glad that Caleb's discomfort seems lessened- i've read that they "get used to" the pain after cutting a few teeth, till molars. she still "nurses" every 3-4 hours during the day, though like Caleb, it's for like 2-3 minutes MAX, unless it's been a long time since she's eaten well. sometimes, she's uninterested for like 5 hours, then has a good session in the afternoon. all in all, she would prefer it if I would sit around with no shirt on all day so she could play a little, screech a little, then pop over for a few sips here and there. forget it if DH is around!

Maurine, thanks for the good thoughts about the housework. DH tries to do some things around the house too, but i think i just do a better job. I will totally deal with a sub-par job if it means it's not all on me though!!

Nanette- I can't believe you're next already! has the time gone as quickly for you as it has for me? :) I can understand what you mean about being hard to please. when with the MWs, i was always hoping they would tell me SOMETHING... even if it was just, 'this is what's normal ____" but most in the group were pretty hands off, and just let normal be normal, and said little. Coming from the RE's office, I came to expect much more consistent, positive reinforcement! I hope all the testing can sloooow down as your EDD approaches, and that you and those little babies enjoy your last few weeks being so close. 

well, better go get in the shower- doing a night shower since i have to be out of the house by 6AM tomorrow. 

[Maurine]

Hi there!  It's a BOY!  Tear, maybe ours can meet IRL and get maaaarried.  :)

Profile, feet, and the money shot.

(Blue it was awesome to see you checking in on here.  How ARE you?  I'll have to go find you...)

[slylives]

Tear, Maurine  Glad things are going so well for you both!! I am doing fine - although my MW told me again that I'm gaining too much weight. (25 lbs at 25 weeks.) I gave her the old "yes, I will try and eat more fibre/wholegrains and put the pies down" spiel, but honestly - after the journey it's been to get here, I am enjoying eating whatever the hell I like.

I don't know about you, but this still doesn't feel entirely real yet. We have no names picked out and haven't bought so much as a onesie (although if it's a girl we have a basement full of clothes to pass down, anyway). I wish I could enjoy this pregnancy more. When I feel the baby move, I don't feel euphoria, just relief. I hope this feeling passes.

[Nanette56]

Oh my goodness a girl for Tear and a boy for Maureen! That's wonderful! And the ultrasounds look great ladies! So glad we have some new graduates- and I can't wait to see more soon!! And lisko Caleb is sooo darned cute! Love seeing those little cheeks- they make me smile

NST for me today, and apparently having lots of ctx. Irregular but u know ob's freak over everything. Had to stay for an extra 20 minutes which was a real pain in the butt (literally, my butt hurt) because u have to stay hooked up for 20 mins per baby as it is. Anyway, he wanted to check me and I respectfully declined. I'm almost 35 weeks, and they are well over 5 pounds each and my peri would not interfere with labor at this point even though we're all hoping for 36 weeks. So what's the use? Trying to take it easy, but the practice won't run itself. I wonder if he would flip if I mentioned I was still working and seeing clients? Anyway will keep y'all updated. Hopefully they will stay put for another week and a half.

[blueyezz4]

Just stopped by to stalk... sorry for intruding!!!

Maurine - Congrats girl!!!  Yeah, A BOY!!!!  He looks perfect!!  Love the little shot of the feet!!

Nanette - Just happened to read your post as well and I just have to say that I LOVE your attitude!!!  Good luck with your two little bundle of joys on the way and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you make it to 36wks or more.  I don't know your whole story but did you only transfer 2 embies with your last IVF or did you do more?  We are heading towards our first FET and are trying to decide between putting 2 or 3 back in.  Good luck and take care!!

[Lauren31]

Tear-- ahhhhhhhh girls are the best! :) hahaha so so so excited for you! I am bad at posting here too :)

Nannette--  :) You are next! No matter how those babies get here, all that matters is that they get there and you are all healthy :) You are going to be a fabulous mom! I will send you flipping vibes so those babies get into good position!

FinnegansMom-- Wow! What a story! I am so happy to hear that everything worked out for you. It sounds like a hard labor but your little boy (big boy!) is so precious! You did a great job :)  Has your milk come in? How is the recovery? I know with a hemoraghe it sometimes make the milk come in slower, right?

Liz--  Good to hear from you! I think that waking up thing can be totally normal, especially at that age. My daughter did that too when I put her to bed at 8ish, she'd wake every 45 minutes to nurse until about 10 when she'd sleep in three hour stretches...  (and still does do it some nights too...)  I think wherever the baby and mom/dad sleep best is where the baby belongs :)

[slylives]

So how is everyone doing? I am fine but had a bit of a scare on Tuesday. It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't felt the baby move in a while. So I lay flat and drank some orange juice and waited for Critter to start bouncing. Nothing. Drank some Coke - nothing. So I raced down to my MW unit. Of course, the second I got into the elevator Critter woke up and started jiggling...felt a little silly by the time I spoke with the midwife, but she was very kind and listened to the heartbeat for me. Strong and healthy!

Hope everyone else is doing well. And I think I may cave in and buy a onesie this weekend...