Weekly Chat ~ Dec 10 - Dec 16 « Back to Group Discussions

[Quinalla]

New thread and here are a few posts to continue the conversation!

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

CBM - My DD just went through the same thing with getting up at night and then getting up early. She is also getting her molars. She hasn't been acting too terrible during the days as long as I can keep her really busy but she is chewing like a puppy! I finally set up her "coloring table" that I got at a garage sale 2 years ago and then she got that slide and basketball hoop so I have been rotating those with some new cartoons from netflix.

nstewart - I didn't see the episode but I saw the preview where she tries to get out of the car while the other chick is still driving. I laughed at that. I am almost that bad.

Yesterday we did 8 hours of cookie baking. My legs actually were swollen at the end. Owie. I get a weird swelling in each leg behind my shins and it feels weird. It was gone after our car ride home but today my pubic bone pain was extra sore. MIL and I both decided we didn't feel like baking today so we mutually cancelled another round of cookies. We also had a "blizzard" (deemed that by the snow mongering weather people). We got maybe 3 inches of wet stuff but tonight it is suppose to get to -20F and a high of 10 tomorrow with like 40 MPH winds. DH drives all day for work so he is thinking he will stay home, which is kind of exciting since he is the kind of person who has to keep busy all.the.time but tomorrow he might just be stuck inside with us all day! Yay!

Quinalla - I just saw that you mentioned you are making spritz. We had such an issue getting the dough the right temp to come out of the gun yesterday. I was hoping to make a few dozen but got out maybe 1 dozen.

Hmm, never had a problem with the dough being a certain temperature, I usually just make it and put it right in the press, so it's pretty much room temp, maybe a little colder. The first cookie is usually weird and the last, but otherwise I don't have too many issues. You do have to have the right knack at pulling the press away sharply once you press a cookie out, but other than that, hmm. What temperature were you trying the dough at? Maybe the recipe is a little off making the dough to mushy or too solid? Weird!

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

Also, according the thebump.com my baby should be the size of a mango! Wow!

[Quinalla]

We got ornaments on the tree this weekend, DD was particularly excited about the Avengers ornaments I got, she loves Captain America especially, but also likes the rest too, though I was bummed, but no surprised, that there was no Black Widow in the mix. DH got the rest of the basement painted except the wall where our safes are in front of, have to empty the safes then move them before we can paint that part. DH also replaced the dryer vent as he took it apart to get to wiring and we needed new clamps anyway, so decided to just replace the flex part as those tend to get filled up with dryer lint.

My job today is to call carpet people as the awesome carpet guy we used last time is not returning our calls, no clue on that one as he was very responsive last time. We decided since it will be new people to do the basement and basement stairs first and then if they do a good job to do the stairs to the 2nd floor, hallway, and the 2 bedrooms soon after. At least I'm on Angie's List so I have some idea how good/bad companies are. I got 1.5 of the 4 bins of junk from my office sorted/tossed so its a start. And I haven't gotten to the easiest box yet which is a bunch of computer games which will mostly get tossed, so I'm feeling like I'm about half done already.

I'm looking forward to my OB appt next week (just a routine one) because I'm sure I'll get another quick peek with the ultrasound since they have a hard time finding the HBs otherwise. I want to see what position they are in, it seems like they are changing positions several times a day, but who knows! DD was sitting on my lap and kept wanting to scoot back more, but I told her babies are in the way. So then she was saying "Can't scoot back, too many babies." for the next few minutes, too funny!

[cadybh]

Oh gosh, BaileyB, that's a lot of time baking cookies... and unfortunately I can relate.  Ladies, it must be pregnancy brain.  Yesterday I attempted to triple the recipe of a family favorite (Swedish cream wafers) but used too much butter and realized I'd need to make SIX batches.  UGH!  I baked off 4 batches and frosted 3 yesterday and will have to continue tonight.  DH said "Honey, no more projects."  Heehee.

Quinalla, I gather it's twins then?  Congrats, how exciting!

Does anyone else still use a monitor for their older children/babies??  We just yesterday turned DS' monitor off at night so I can get some sleep (he's three, in a full-sized bed, and perfectly capable of getting up and opening doors to come find us if he really needs something).  I am way too tired of this sort of conversation lately:

(overheard on monitor) Bradley: I neeeeeeeeeeeed heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp, I neeed heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp...

(go into his room) Me: Honey, what do you need?

Bradley: Find my Batman [matchbox] car.

Me: That is not a reason to wake Mommy and Daddy.

Bradley: Yes it is!

Me: (feeling around briefly) I don't feel Batman, I will find him for you tomorrow morning.

Bradley: You did not use a flashlight.

Me: I am not looking anymore now, I will find him in the morning.  Go back to sleep. (blow kiss to him from door)

Bradley: I am not blowing you a kiss.

HAHAHA, except not too funny at 2 AM or whatever time it was.  UGH I need more sleep and as it is I wake myself up 1-2 times to pee.

[MarieWalter]

Sharing a personal achievement today - I'll be turning in my master's paper this afternoon! I wrote about measuring quality in maternity care, and how despite progress and interest in this project in the US, we still aren't doing a good job measuring many of the things women really care about. It was really interesting to work on - I wish I had been able to give the paper more time.

 graduation, here I come!

By the way, if this is an area of interest to anyone, there's been kind of big news on the maternity care quality measurement front. JCAHO, the body that accredits most US hospitals, has a new "perinatal core measure set" that is going to be mandatory for reporting for hospitals that have more than 1,100 births annually, starting in 2014. Not only will this hopefully focus these hospitals' quality efforts toward their L&D units, all of the data will be made publicly available at qualitycheck.org. This means that for hospitals meeting the above characteristics (JCAHO accredited, more than 1,100 births annually) you will be able to look up their low risk* cesarean rate, rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge, and elective early induction rate, as well as 2 other measures more relevant to higher-risk births. Maintaining accreditation will also be partly dependent on hospitals showing progress on these measures.

*low risk = the so-called NTSV rate, cesareans among nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex pregnancies.

Refs if you want to know more:

the news release stating the new requirements for accreditation: http://www.jointcommission.org/the_joint_commission_expands_performance_measurement_requirements/

details about the 5 measures in the perinatal set: http://manual.jointcommission.org/releases/TJC2013A/PerinatalCare.html

[Quinalla]

cadybh, yes we are having twins, it is definitely more exciting and less scary now than when we found out! We do use a monitor with DD still and probably will continue for a bit as for naps and bedtime before we go to bed, we often can't hear her depending where we are in the house or what we are doing (loud movie, etc.) While she can get out of bed, she doesn't yet except when she is sneakily taking all her clothes out of her dresser like she did on Saturday I haven't yet, but I should start turning off the monitor at night. I can hear her from our room if she gets loud and if she is just mumbling or whatever, I don't really want to be waken up when she usually just goes back to sleep anyway.

Originally Posted by MarieWalter 

Sharing a personal achievement today - I'll be turning in my master's paper this afternoon! I wrote about measuring quality in maternity care, and how despite progress and interest in this project in the US, we still aren't doing a good job measuring many of the things women really care about. It was really interesting to work on - I wish I had been able to give the paper more time.

 graduation, here I come!

Congratulations! Sounds like a really interesting paper and I like the news about trying to measure and make available data on maternity quality. Sounds like a step in the right direction!

[nstewart]

Katie, wow!  Sounds like you had a really productive weekend!  Way to go!

cady, we still use a monitor before we go to bed.  Usually we're in the basement where our family room is and wouldn't be able to hear DS if he woke up.  Once we go to bed we don't use a monitor, as DSs room is right next to ours and he just wanders in if he needs something (usually needs help going pee at about 2 or 3 which is fine right now as I usually have to go by then too!)

Wow Marie, way to go!  Congratulations!!  You must be so happy to be done!  I know how happy my DH was when he finished his Masters Defense Project.  Do you have any plans post-graduation (besides having a baby, obviously!)?

We had a fun weekend and a great visit with DHs parents.  Saturday morning we went down to the farmers market at DSs request.  He played in the indoor playground while we visited and had coffee.  It was great BC our table was right in front of the play area and DS could just run out to check in with us and get a snack or drink or whatever.  We also picked up some yummy stuff and other groceries that I needed.  Unfortuntetly the duck egg lady was out of eggs by the time I arrived so I'll have to try to go next week.  DS has a sensitivity to chicken eggs, but duck eggs are ok (and unfortunetely hard to come by!).  We also stopped in at a toy store on the way home that DH and I hadn't been to before, and it was next to a needlecraft store.  I was so excited to see they carried needle felting products at the needlecraft store, I picked up a pile of wool and now have more projects in mind.  Saturday night was the big company Christmas party and DHs parents babysat DS (to their great excitement!)  Yesterday we tried to do some Christmas shopping but the mall was a zoo and we left after DS had a meltdown in Toys R Us.  Poor munchkin was played out from the weekend and promptly had a 3.5hr nap as soon as we got home!  Oh, and I finally started a bit of Christmas baking.  I did a copycat version of the starbucks gingerbread loaf, and am happy with how it turned out.  Not quite as dense as the SBs loaf, but great flavor and texture.  Next I think I'll copycat the cranberry bliss bars.  My sis made a copy cat recipe a couple years ago that's better than the original and so freaking yummy!  Hopefully she'll share...

[cadybh]

YAY Marie, that's fabulous!  You must feel a major weight off.  That is very interesting news, thanks for sharing.  I have wondered about things like that, because I gave birth to DS in a "baby friendly" hospital that still had plenty of interventions and a general lack of breastfeeding support in the very beginning (when it matters most!).  I bet though they are "baby friendly" they aren't going to be scoring as well on a measure like the one you describe as I'd have thought before I was a patient there.  Interesting.

Ooh, N, I have never had duck eggs.  I am in LOVE with eggs this pregnancy.  How do they compare to chicken eggs (other than smaller size I'd guess)? Bummer you need them and couldn't find them.

Yeah, having no monitor while I slept last night was freeing!  I think I will/do already wake when there's really something going on but now if he's just coughing or sighing or asking for Batman (ha!) I won't be disturbed.  It's very unfair to me that DH never even stops snoring during the nighttime, no matter how much noise the monitor makes!

Katie, I think I'd freak at first about twins too.  Wowzers.  Have any in your family?  Hahaha, oh no!  All the clothes out of the dresser was one of my fears when DS moved to a big bed but it hasn't happened yet (knock on wood).

[Lynann]

So much to catch up on here.

The last week has been a whirlwind around here. Tuesday last week I started to get a rash, by Wednesday it was beginning to look like it might be Chicken Pox, so we went to Urgent Care (I don't have any care provider right now), but the doctor there couldn't confirm it, so I was referred to a dermatologist. I couldn't get an appointment until Friday, so we didn't know what it was that whole time. By Friday it was pretty bad, but only on sun exposed skin. The dermatologist thought it highly unlikely to be Chicken Pox as it should have been scabbing on some of the blisters by then, but it wasn't. I was also having fevers at night, muscle aches and completely lost my appetite. He took 2 biopsies and ordered a ton of blood tests (why I could get done until this morning as the lab was closed by the time the boys had their nap on Friday.) He thinks the rash was a photo-sensitive reaction and a sign of Lupus, so I had several blood tests for that on the list. Meanwhile he has me on a steroid for the rash and both an anti-viral and an antibiotic just to make sure all bases are covered while they wait for the tests results.

Now I'm going to have to find a care provider for this pregnancy too, as the meds are not without risk to the baby. If the tests are positive for Lupus I'll become a high risk pregnancy and have to see a Perinatologist, which is so far from the stress free UP/UC freebirth we were planning.

Boys have just woken up, but I'll come back later to comment on posts later.

[Quinalla]

nstewart, yeah we got a lot done, though DH is already lamenting that he will have nothing to do this week I told him I'm sure we can come up with something! The farmer's market sounds really nice, I still have yet to find one that I love around here, some decent ones, but except for the one downtown that has horrendous parking, they are all just kind of meh.

cadybh, yes we were pretty stunned. Were just in for the first appointment and my OB does a routine U/S to check for etopic/twins/etc., we'd gone through the paperwork, I gave blood, talked to the OB with DH about how my first pregnancy went (my OB for that pregnancy has retired since) and were feeling pretty good about how hopefully this one would be straightforward and easy too. Well, get in to do the U/S and the screen wasn't really pointed well at me yet and she does a quick looksee and then points it away and says "Are you ready?" and I'm like "There are two, aren't there?" in my head and bam, two little babies on the screen. I'm very glad DH was there with me, I can't imagine trying to call him and talk to him about it while I was still in shock myself. Fraternal twins do run in my family, I have 3 sets of twin cousins and my Grandma miscarried twins, this is all on my Mom's side, but still even with that the odds are still pretty low. And I never suspected, sure I was showing sooner and my symptoms weren't exactly the same, but that's normal in a second pregnancy anyway. Anyway, it was overwhelming, but at least it wasn't as bad as my one Aunt who had surprise twins since one was hiding behind the other so they couldn't see him on the only late U/S she got or hear his HB. So she found at when a foot was coming out instead of a placenta after her girl was born that she was having twins, I can't even imagine!

And yeah, DD had almost all of her dresser's contents stacked on her bed and was very quiet about it for 30 minutes when I put her down for her nap on Saturday. She finally started jabbering so I went up to check. Oh well, at least it was easy to clean up!

[adventuregirl]

Lyn, that is crazy! I hope it isn't Lupus! Fingers crossed for you that the tests come back pointing to something benign and easy to get past.

[Quinalla]

Lynann, I hope you are alright! We cross-posted.

[AmandaLynnH]

Congrats Marie!  There isn't a better feeling than being done with a program like that.  I finished mine in 2010 and am so happy to not be in class anymore!

Had a nice weekend over here.  Didn't do much except ran a few errands and got a frame for some artwork my mother finally got around to getting us for a housewarming gift (we've been there since May she claimed that as a gift for us in June after yelling at me for buying a vase we liked because that was something she would have liked to get us as a housewarming gift).  Happy to finally be able to put that up!

My back is at it again after babysitting Sat. night and having a 7 year old on my lap for a couple of hours.  I think I was trying to angle myself so she couldn't sit on my belly and hurt the baby (I don't think that's necessarily a concern but I wasn't sure) and that may have aggravated it.

Had an interesting conversation with my mother.  My brother and his wife cut her off the sunday before thanksgiving so that made that holiday particularly stressful.  Apparently that didn't take as she contacted him twice last week and he sent her another email cutting off contact and suggesting that she get mental help (which she really REALLY needs) and mentioned me in it as well (as though he had consulted me and I was in on the writing of the email) and copied me on it.  I spent all of Thursday in a panic over what my mother would do since he threw me in there with him.  I completely agree with everything he said (she's mean under the guise of joking and then claims we're too sensitive, guilts us about not being able to be up there whenever she wants, having our own lives, etc.  I don't agree with his declaration that we'd be willing to pay for therapy (that's her responsibility and she got plenty of free therapy out of me from ages 11-30, NO MORE), that we love her (I don't wish her harm but I do not love someone who abused me for years and continues to try), etc.  We had been remaining neutral and refusing to discuss her thing with them but that email kinda removed that option so I figured that was the end for us too which was kind of a relief but I was upset that that had been taken away from me.  But I wondered if she'd react with anger, guilt, or try to harm herself.  Apparently I forgot about crazy door number 4: pretend like it never happened.  She never mentioned it once when I finally took her call (to put an end to the wondering).  So now I'm still stuck, waiting for her to do something appalling again so I can cut ties myself.  

Have an appointment tomorrow and will have the second trimester screening.  Sadly my midwife wouldn't do the anatomy scan then since I'm only 17 weeks, we were hoping they'd do it a bit early so we'd know the gender before Christmas but no such luck.  Assuming everything comes back normal with the screening though we may give in and go to a private u/s place and get the gender scan done.  We're a bit impatient.  I'm excited to know but nervous all the same because what if it's not what I want?  I'm a bit of a control freak and I know I'll have to give some of that up with a kiddo and I'm actually looking forward to motherhood mellowing me a bit but I really really want one gender over the other.

Anyone have any big plans for this week?

[CoBabyMaker]

Holy smokes!  This is a busy thread today!  Sorry if I miss someone...

Bailey, wow!  That is a LOT of baking!  I am sure you were so sore!  I'm glad you took a break the next day.  I have been thinking of moving our little slide inside, too for a little energy release.  We don't really have a good place to put it but we can stick it somewhere.

Katie, That's fun that you were able to find some Cpt. America ornaments for your DD.  I bet she loved that!  I'll admit I'm a bit envious of your house progress.  It is so nice to get things cleaned out and projects finished!  "Can't scoot back, too many babies."  haha!  I love it!

Cadybh, I think I messed up and added too much of one ingredient like that last year.  Well, you'll have plenty of cookies!  We have a monitor but have always stopped using it as soon as their cries were louder than the soft newborn cry.  Our house is not that big and we can hear them fine.  My DH sleeps through everything too!  I remember one time when DD2 was little during a time of her waking a lot that he commented on how well she was sleeping.  After I shot daggers into him with my eyes I let him know that she woke on average 6x a night and he just slept through it.  I am praying this baby gets his ability to sleep through everything!  I know it's not funny at 2am but your DS's request for you to look with the flashlight is so funny!

Marie,   Congrats!  I bet that feels GREAT to be done with that!  It sounds like an interesting topic too!

Nstewart, Sounds like a really nice weekend!  Your farmer's market sounds great! Does your market go year round?  Our season is so short here I forget that some places can do that.   DD2 can't do eggs and i have wondered if she could handle duck eggs.  Perhaps I'll see if I can track some down.  It would be soooo nice to be able to use eggs!

Lyn, I am so sorry!  I hope they can find an answer and solution quickly!  (and I hope it's something simple so you could still have the type of birth you are hoping for!)

Amanda,   Would you have to wait an entire month for the anatomy scan?  That's a bummer since 17 weeks is SO close to the cut-off.

Not much to report around here.  The kids have had colds so we haven't been doing much.  I have been cleaning/organizing/junk purging over the last several days and i love it!  Now I feel like I really need to organize all the homeschooling stuff we've been given but I get overwhelmed when I look at it all.  Blessed to just be given it, but totally unsure of where to start.  I need to tackle my sewing pile too!  Most of it won't take long if I just do it!

  I finally got going on Christmas presents and am almost done!  Not sure what to get the in-laws.  What do you all do for yours?  MIL is actually pretty easy to shop for but I think she is trying to get rid of "stuff"  (sort of, haha, she shops a lot still.)  FIL I don't know. 

[BaileyB]

I have a lot of catching up on and only skimmed just now....

Lynn! I really hope its nothing! I have been tested for Lupus multiple times and always been neg so hopefully you will be too.

Quinalla - I don't know what our issue is with the spritzes. I've always been told the dough should be a little on the cold side but for some reason we had trouble getting the dough to let go of the gun. A little too gummy I think. Maybe we just needed some ore flour in it.

Nothing new here today. Just been feeling like 21 more weeks is going to feel like forever and I want to play with the baby already! haha.

[BaileyB]

Quinalla - ""Can't scoot back, too many babies." for the next few minutes, too funny!" I have similar conversations with DD about sitting on my lap, especially when I am trying to rock her. She gets wiggly trying to get comfy and I have to tell her to sit nice or she will squish the baby. She listens though!

Cadybh - My daughter would totally use the baby monitor as an intercom too. We haven't used one in a long time though. She is in a bed too and will come get me in the morning or she will just yell down the hall that she can't find her blankey in the middle of the night.

MarieWalter- Congrats on the upcoming graduation! So exciting!

Nstewart - We have duck eggs! We got 'em coming out of our ears actually and everyone who said they wanted them have disapeared into thin air for some reason. Maybe I can sell ours at the farmer's market! This is the first year they have done it all year round, too.

AmandaLynn - "Had an interesting conversation with my mother.  My brother and his wife cut her off the sunday before thanksgiving so that made that holiday particularly stressful.  Apparently that didn't take as she contacted him twice last week and he sent her another email cutting off contact and suggesting that she get mental help (which she really REALLY needs) and mentioned me in it as well (as though he had consulted me and I was in on the writing of the email) and copied me on it.  I spent all of Thursday in a panic over what my mother would do since he threw me in there with him.  I completely agree with everything he said (she's mean under the guise of joking and then claims we're too sensitive, guilts us about not being able to be up there whenever she wants, having our own lives, etc.  I don't agree with his declaration that we'd be willing to pay for therapy (that's her responsibility and she got plenty of free therapy out of me from ages 11-30, NO MORE), that we love her (I don't wish her harm but I do not love someone who abused me for years and continues to try), etc."

BAAAHHH! Your mother is MY mother! Sounds so familiar...unfortunetly!

Like I said above, not much to report here.My xmas shopping is done except one gift exchange thing, but I won't be at the party where it will be exchanged so in my mind it is kind of written off. We are doing some baking with my neighbor friend and her 1 year old boy next Sunday. This week (especially since we have snow and that always makes me want to hibernate) we/I am just planning on staying home the whole week and tinker with stuff here. DD is finally back to her self-entertaining happy self. She is literally sitting on the floor 'reading' her children's bible and watching cartoons like a perfect little angel. Such a 180 from the last 2 weeks, although her molars aren't quite busted through her gums yet. I got a newborn bonnet knitted up and finished lastnite. I told DH it turned out so good I don't want to give it away. It is for my cousin's baby shower. She is having a girl. She lives in Boston but is from here so we are having the shower on the 22nd while she is home for the holidays. I will try to take a picture today and post it. It is the first project I have ever successfully finished that has turned out the way it is suppose to (besides 2 scarves for DD).

[Quinalla]

AmandaLynn, sorry you hurt your back, ouch! Bummer that they won't do the anatomy scan a little early, though I understand as they want to make sure they can see everything. Good luck if you go get the gender scan done! This week we are going to meet with two different carpet guys, going to a small storefront tonight to look and get samples and schedule them to come out and measure and have a guy scheduled to come out Saturday with samples and to measure.

CoBaby, it has been so nice to get stuff done. I'm glad DHs need to do something was a project I actually wanted done too. Too often he comes up with some crazy scheme that I end up reluctantly going along with and then regretting! It is so nice having the house coming together organization-wise, you don't realize the constant low-level stress clutter is causing until its gone. Congrats on all your organizing! Good luck with the homeschool stuff, sounds like maybe you need to buy a few cheap bins or something to get yourself started? Sometimes that helps me to have somewhere to put stuff.

BaileyB, weird, I know it always takes me a couple tries to get the hang of it again if I haven't done spritz for awhile, sometimes I end up picking up 3-4 cookies and shoving the dough back in. When I make mine, I'll let you know. Also, some of the shape are more of a PITA than others, I usually go with the easier shapes like the tree or wreathes. Other than making sure the press is in full contact with the surface and sharply pulling up hmm, oh one thing, I can never do spritz on parchment paper, they need to stick to the surface more than that, straight on the cookie sheet is the only way I can do it. Maybe that was it?

I had some weird dreams last night, that I was back at university in marching band with some other folks who were back and new folks. Bizarre!

[MarieWalter]

It's so cozy reading about everyone's holiday prep, troublesome spritzes and all. I think the biggest hissy-fit of my grownup life was one time when I was trying to make these overly-fussy candy-cane cookies - I literally grabbed a big glob of dough in my fist, squeezed until it smooshed out between my fingers, flung it across the counter, and left the house! :p I think I have learned more patience and gotten more laid back since then, lol.

Lyn, let us know when you have updates about your symptoms!

Amanda, I have to have my anatomy scan a little early because we're moving, let's see, I'll be ... 17+5? I guess that's enough closer to the 18 mark. That's Thursday - I'm looking forward to it even though I did not realize it took so long. I don't particularly have a problem with ultrasounds, but I had no idea it would be like an hour long scan. I'm hoping the tech will give us a printout of baby's hands 

Sooo my next project after finishing my big paper - well, I have an exam Friday and assignments to grade, but neither are too worrisome - packing! We're leaving here on the 19th to be in Fla for the holidays, then onto Germany on the 31st. We're moving with suitcases only, so I'm going to actually start packing household stuff that we can do without, just to get a better sense for how the space is going to play out. Hoping not to have to pay for extra suitcases - on the Tampa-Toronto-Frankfurt flight, it's $100 to check an extra one! We have nearly finished Xmas shopping. Usually (being at a distance) we buy online and have stuff shipped, but I wanted to do a little more local-small-business this year. Basically everyone is getting books and wall calendars and maybe socks :) Then we're shipping all that home via the USPS, which I need to do pretty quick here to make sure it all gets there in time!

[eepeepee]

Wow!  Lots to talk about already this week.  I have a couple quick questions to submit to the collective mama wisdom:

What have you guys asked for for Christmas/Hanukkah/etc?  My family/husband keep asking me what I want and I really can't think of much.  I mean, all I really need these days is baby/maternity stuff, but that seems almost like a waste of a gift that's supposed to be for me, you know?  Plus, that's what the shower will be for.  Thoughts?

Also, today my boss not-so-subtly mentioned that I should really try to schedule my midwife appointments either "really early" or "really late" in the day (I had to leave around noon yesterday for one).  She tried to frame it as concern for my sick days being used up, but I don't know if I really buy that.  It made me feel weird and guilty for having to leave so often (I've had scheduling snafus and had to go every other week a few times).  Am I being paranoid?

[AmandaLynnH]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

Amanda,   Would you have to wait an entire month for the anatomy scan?  That's a bummer since 17 weeks is SO close to the cut-off.

Not much to report around here.  The kids have had colds so we haven't been doing much.  I have been cleaning/organizing/junk purging over the last several days and i love it!  Now I feel like I really need to organize all the homeschooling stuff we've been given but I get overwhelmed when I look at it all.  Blessed to just be given it, but totally unsure of where to start.  I need to tackle my sewing pile too!  Most of it won't take long if I just do it!

  I finally got going on Christmas presents and am almost done!  Not sure what to get the in-laws.  What do you all do for yours?  MIL is actually pretty easy to shop for but I think she is trying to get rid of "stuff"  (sort of, haha, she shops a lot still.)  FIL I don't know. 

I hope not.  I just read something on another forum (yes I see other forums) about a woman who had her anatomy scan and they found out that the baby's joints were all fused and had to terminate and it got me all freaked out.  So I'm hoping to ask to schedule it right away in January.  Then maybe I can hold out on the special place and save the $40.

My MIL is getting a keurig from all of her kiddos.  My FIL has passed away so getting him gifts would be odd.  My other ILs get things off their wish lists or gift cards.

Hope the kiddos feel better!

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

BAAAHHH! Your mother is MY mother! Sounds so familiar...unfortunetly!

Like I said above, not much to report here.My xmas shopping is done except one gift exchange thing, but I won't be at the party where it will be exchanged so in my mind it is kind of written off. We are doing some baking with my neighbor friend and her 1 year old boy next Sunday. This week (especially since we have snow and that always makes me want to hibernate) we/I am just planning on staying home the whole week and tinker with stuff here. DD is finally back to her self-entertaining happy self. She is literally sitting on the floor 'reading' her children's bible and watching cartoons like a perfect little angel. Such a 180 from the last 2 weeks, although her molars aren't quite busted through her gums yet. I got a newborn bonnet knitted up and finished lastnite. I told DH it turned out so good I don't want to give it away. It is for my cousin's baby shower. She is having a girl. She lives in Boston but is from here so we are having the shower on the 22nd while she is home for the holidays. I will try to take a picture today and post it. It is the first project I have ever successfully finished that has turned out the way it is suppose to (besides 2 scarves for DD).

I didn't know I had another sister!  So sad that it rings true for you too.

I do still need to find a white elephant gift now that you mention it.

Originally Posted by MarieWalter 

Amanda, I have to have my anatomy scan a little early because we're moving, let's see, I'll be ... 17+5? I guess that's enough closer to the 18 mark. That's Thursday - I'm looking forward to it even though I did not realize it took so long. I don't particularly have a problem with ultrasounds, but I had no idea it would be like an hour long scan. I'm hoping the tech will give us a printout of baby's hands 

Sooo my next project after finishing my big paper - well, I have an exam Friday and assignments to grade, but neither are too worrisome - packing! We're leaving here on the 19th to be in Fla for the holidays, then onto Germany on the 31st. We're moving with suitcases only, so I'm going to actually start packing household stuff that we can do without, just to get a better sense for how the space is going to play out. Hoping not to have to pay for extra suitcases - on the Tampa-Toronto-Frankfurt flight, it's $100 to check an extra one! We have nearly finished Xmas shopping. Usually (being at a distance) we buy online and have stuff shipped, but I wanted to do a little more local-small-business this year. Basically everyone is getting books and wall calendars and maybe socks :) Then we're shipping all that home via the USPS, which I need to do pretty quick here to make sure it all gets there in time!

Yea I'm 17+3 today.  It's an HOUR SCAN?!?  Holy carp!  And with a full bladder that whole time?  That doesn't sound like fun.  

Originally Posted by eepeepee 

Wow!  Lots to talk about already this week.  I have a couple quick questions to submit to the collective mama wisdom:

What have you guys asked for for Christmas/Hanukkah/etc?  My family/husband keep asking me what I want and I really can't think of much.  I mean, all I really need these days is baby/maternity stuff, but that seems almost like a waste of a gift that's supposed to be for me, you know?  Plus, that's what the shower will be for.  Thoughts?

Also, today my boss not-so-subtly mentioned that I should really try to schedule my midwife appointments either "really early" or "really late" in the day (I had to leave around noon yesterday for one).  She tried to frame it as concern for my sick days being used up, but I don't know if I really buy that.  It made me feel weird and guilty for having to leave so often (I've had scheduling snafus and had to go every other week a few times).  Am I being paranoid?

I've been wanting jewelry this Christmas since clothing makes me feel fat and I'm feeling like I can't spoil myself since we have a kid on the way.  I want sparkly things that make me feel pretty.  That, and cheese.  

That kinda sucks about your boss.  It could just be a preference thing like it's easier for her to deal with you being gone at certain times or she figures it's better for you?  I try to schedule mine for the end of the day, after work if possible, but then I find myself having a day like today where I just want to be done and go home and then I remember I have to go and be poked and prodded for a while after work and I just go 'ugh.'

Second trimester scan today.  Hope everything goes well.  I give major props to those that raise children with special needs but I don't think I could do it so I'm a bit nervous.

Feeling kinda crappy today too.  I know weeks 16-18 are a major growth spurt for the babe and I feel like I'm back in my first trimester again.  So tired I can barely keep my eyes open, back killing me, slightly nauseated (although I think that's just hunger), hungry, headachy. No fair, baby leave me alone.

At least I get to work from home tomorrow since they're putting a coat of poly on my office door.  Fumes are nice for getting me out of work.

In surprise news my brother, SIL, and niece are coming for Christmas and staying with us.  It's unexpected.  We had invited them but figured they wouldn't come.  I'm happy to see them but a little sad that my laid back Christmas will now not be quite as restful since we'll have company.  And we'll have to figure out our other family plans as we had planned on attending one other family christmas and then hosting our own.

[TwilightJoy]

Hi ladies! You're all so verbose I'm struggling to keep up! Work is crazy for me this week- but next Friday the 21st is my last day for the year. I'm SO looking forward to some time off!


I do have a question... did any of you switch from full time to part time? I want to ask my boss for me to go part time once this babe is born, but it's pretty unheard of in my office, so I'm looking for advice. I created a thread here: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1369983/please-help-asking-boss-to-switch-to-part-time if you would please pop on over with any support or advice. TIA!