February Chat Thread « Back to Group Discussions

[alaskanmomma]

Realized I posted in January.. when it's really February! Can anyone else believe that we'll have our babies anytime between NEXT month and May?!

[firespiritmelody]

EEK!!

[TIFF4NY]

 

That's how I feel about that! lol

[BeanBean06]

I just posted something similar on fb this morning... Can't believe it's February and we will most likely have a baby NEXT MONTH! Wow! So excited! Can't wait!

[jessmn]

I'm pretty excited to hit February, too! January went by so fast I am hoping Feb does as well.

I want to count down the weeks but I just have no idea. I'm thinking anytime between April 7 - April 28 is realistic, the farther out the better of course. I'm thinking April 22 sounds fun for having twins, and it doesn't interfere with the multitude of birthdays my family has at the end of the month!
 

[cagnew]

I am super excited for this baby! I'm starting to get impatient for April :)

Ugh. Finances are stressing me out. Thanks to the increase in social security withholding, DH's check was $70 less. That's a lot of money for us. And I've been reading stories that say the IRS has determined that the cheapest "Obamacare" health plan will cost $20,000 a year for families of 4-5. It was based on a household income of $120k... we don't make near that much, so maybe it would be less if we needed to go that route? And what happens if you are a family of 6? I was hoping it was just right-wing hysteria, but I looked at the actual IRS doc and the article was correct. I'm hoping to keep our current health insurance because it's pretty good, but I am concerned about the premiums increasing to a point where we can't afford it anymore. I keep reading about current premiums doubling.... What a mess :( Interestingly, it would be MUCH cheaper to just pay the penalty for NOT having any insurance... but I don't want to go without insurance.

And food prices are going up and gas prices are going up. We are already living frugally and simply... not sure how much we can cut before I have to default on my student loans. 

*deep breath*

I don't understand. People keep saying the economy is getting better and things are getting better... but I don't see that. Who's it getting better for? The super rich and the government? 

I'll stop now since this is getting kind of political and might not be appropriate for this forum. Plus, I don't want to be a downer :) 

Yay for Feb.!!!!! Getting closer!!!!!

[TIFF4NY]

Can I just point out that there is now an OCTOBER DDC? Wow!

I had DD the day before her EDD so in my mind I'm counting for at least 40w just so I don't go stir crazy when I get near 37w and beyond.

[IronMam]

DP got invited to interview at the medical school in our city...but he says that even if he gets a perfect interview score, he'll probably get wait-listed at best. :(  And we're still waiting to hear back from ANY of the US schools. So I'm on the verge of tears right now. I just can't stand the thought of going through another rejection and another year of application costs and efforts (especially since he'll have to retake the MCAT at this point). His undergrad degree was in film, and while his grades were good, they weren't the focus (student film work was the focus), so they don't look competitive against the grades of people who knew they were pre-med from the get-go and got 3.9 gpas, ya know? His MCAT was stellar...but the Canadian school doesn't weight that score very heavily in their applicant consideration. The US schools consider it much more, but, like I said, we're just twiddling our thumbs waiting for them to get back to him. Last night, when he got his invitation, we were so happy and excited (and I was feeling hopeful because he was feeling so confident)...and then today he e-mailed me to tell me he had run some numbers on application scores/number of applicants/etc. and it wasn't looking that great after all. Now I'm just dreading the next three and a half months of stress and worry while we wait to find out if and where he got accepted.

I'm also stressed because our insurance paperwork is SO confusing and I'm having trouble figuring out what all is covered under what circumstances. For example, massage is covered...but to what amount I'm not sure, and only if ordered by a doctor...but it doesn't say whether is has to be my family doctor that orders it, or if the chiro can. The chiro wants me to make an appt. for prenatal massage (which they do in the same office), and is happy to give me a requisition for it. But I'd have to make an appt. with my family doc to even ask her if she would order it for me. And again, they'll cover $300 for a breast pump if ordered as medically needed, but I don't know if that has to be my family doc, or if the midwives can do it. The midwives said they'd be happy to.

I'm just stressed, and overwhelmed right now (especially because my to-do list is growing longer while the time to d-day is getting shorter and my shopping list is getting longer while my bank account is shrinking), and the hormones finally decided to start kicking my ass now that I'm in the third trimester. I'm super cranky and emotional and I snap at DD all the time (which makes me feel guilty on top of everything else).

/rant

[brooklyn_warbler]

Originally Posted by IronMam 

my to-do list is growing longer while the time to d-day is getting shorter and my shopping list is getting longer while my bank account is shrinking), and the hormones finally decided to start kicking my ass now that I'm in the third trimester. I'm super cranky and emotional and I snap at DD all the time (which makes me feel guilty on top of everything else).

/rant

I am right with you, sister.  But congrats on the interview!!  I've worked on admissions committees (to PhD programs)...don't rule it out just based on "the numbers."  He got an interview, he has a shot!!

I can't believe it's February and I have 9w to EDD as of today.  When I tell people I'm due in April they always say, "Oh, spring...you've got a ways to go!" and then I say, "actually, April is only 8.5w away!" and people get the look because I think we in NYC are in that "we are cold and it will never end" sort of mood!

I am still feeling really, really good.  My stomach feels somehow...lighter? than it did with my son.  No backpain or anything.  Sometimes my hips get a little achy but the swelling and heartburn that I got to some degree with both of my other pregnancies (though worse with my son just cause he was bigger) haven't kicked in yet.  I feel superstitious admitting that, like as soon as I commit it to writing I will be struck down with discomfort.  LOL.

[camprunner]

I quit believing in insurance a long time ago.  We do Christian medical sharing.  There are several good ones out there including Samaritan Ministries , Medishare , and Christian Healthcare  Ministries  .  I realize these programs won't work for everyone but I thought I'd throw it out there. They are exempt from Obamacare and work well for large Christian families.  They all work very differently and each will meet different needs so if you feel you fit in this category read the terms of each very carefully before choosing. I don't advocate one over the other because of the differences in the plans and people.  Our family does use Samaritan and if you PM me I can give you more information on how it works.

Otherwise, we need to get our taxes in since sliding in right under the deadline this year would be bad timing :)  So that is stressful.  DH is also trying to get a farm together rather actively and I just realized it's going to require effort on my part too. First planting of our major crop will probably be around my due date grrrr.

[IronMam]

We have provincial health care, which I adore. We pay NOTHING for our usual medical care...not even a monthly fee. Alberta has a pretty wealthy government, so they did away with premiums altogether a few years ago. If we have to move back to the States for school I will miss our universal insurance. But they don't cover certain things (like dental, prescriptions, and chiropractors). Most people with full-time jobs are eligible for extra coverage through work. DH's happens to cover some things I'd probably not take advantage of otherwise, but as long as they're offering to cover it, I'll give it a shot. They also cover meds, dental and partial eye care, so that's good. DD gets dental through the province too, because of our income bracket, but us adults don't get it. She actually had dental surgery when she was two because, apparently, her teeth didn't develop properly in the womb. The dentist didn't explain it in detail past "it's nothing you did wrong, it just happens some times and she'll be fine." She had these little brown spots on her baby teeth. They fixed them though, and she's been problem-free ever since. But it's nerve wracking having your kid put under, especially when they're that young. They were worried she might need to have them fixed again later, but so far, so good. And in a few years her adult teeth will start coming in. So hopefully she's done with big dental stuff until she needs braces, which I'm sure she will. Both her parents had them. In fact, I had them twice, plus spacerss, a turning appliance (HATED IT!), etc. And her teeth are perfectly aligned right now...which the dentist said is actually not great, because baby teeth should have some gaps. Her adult teeth won't have the room they need when they come in. That's my bad genes. My mom and I both have tiny, tiny mouths. Of course, in my mom's case, she was missing her wisdom teeth and the very back set of molars (weird!), so her teeth had plenty of room to fit in her mouth. I wasn't so lucky. lol

Wow. I do ramble don't I? Even on the best of days, I'm quite the talker. But the placenta brain is making it even worse!

[IronMam]

Oh, right. I was originally coming here to say I just put a deposit on our birth pool rental and I forgot to mention it. See! Placenta brain!

[MommyRuth]

Originally Posted by IronMam 

Oh, right. I was originally coming here to say I just put a deposit on our birth pool rental and I forgot to mention it. See! Placenta brain!

You reminded me that I REALLY need to find a dentist for DD. She's never seen one (which I'm fine with) but she has to have her teeth checked by March because of state law and school. I can't seem to find any recommendations. I want someone who won't hassle us about fluoride/x-rays. She actually wants to go and is excited about seeing a dentist.

My midwife said that all the extra fluid during pregnancy compresses our brain and actually makes the brain smaller right now, so we all have a great excuse! DH was teasing me earlier. "Wait, what was I doing?" "What were we talking about?" "What's my name?" ha ha ha

I'm stressed about money, too. DH and I both need expensive work done on our cars and plan to do it by the end of the month, but it probably won't leave much for baby stuff. Our 6 month wedding anniversary is Feb 24 so I'm hoping we can go out for dinner at least. But yeah, placenta brain! :P

[cagnew]

Placenta brain!!!!!!!!! I LOVE it!!!!!!! Hah!

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by camprunner 

I quit believing in insurance a long time ago.  We do Christian medical sharing.  There are several good ones out there including Samaritan Ministries , Medishare , and Christian Healthcare  Ministries  .  I realize these programs won't work for everyone but I thought I'd throw it out there. They are exempt from Obamacare and work well for large Christian families.  They all work very differently and each will meet different needs so if you feel you fit in this category read the terms of each very carefully before choosing. I don't advocate one over the other because of the differences in the plans and people.  Our family does use Samaritan and if you PM me I can give you more information on how it works.

Otherwise, we need to get our taxes in since sliding in right under the deadline this year would be bad timing   So that is stressful.  DH is also trying to get a farm together rather actively and I just realized it's going to require effort on my part too. First planting of our major crop will probably be around my due date grrrr.

I have wanted to do Medi-Share or Samaritan Ministries for years! It is definitely want I believe the body of Christ should be doing...and quite frankly it just makes so much more sense. Unfortunately we won't get reimbursed by DH's employer for health insurance if we go that route and we simply can't afford it otherwise. (As part of his miniscule benefits he does get health insurance but we opted to buy our own for the fam instead of them just cover him and they reimburse us up to what they pay for health ins. per employee. Allows us to be covered but with a ridiculous plan...thankfully we rarely use health insurance but it has been good to have he last couple of years especially since my ectopic was our first ever medical emergency)

Oh and cool about the farm! What will you guys be growing?? We are a farm family as well (I was born and raised on a farm too so I will always be a farm girl at heart!).

[alaskanmomma]

Aww man, sounds like quite a few of us are having some rough times *big hugs*

I'm on state insurance, private health insurance is just so freakin' expensive. We can't afford that and we can't afford Obamacare(the penalty tax OR a plan lol).. I guess by 2016 we better get some bank flow coming in somehow :P. I'm fortunate AK is a pretty darn progressive state birth wise. Medicaid covers my midwife. They pretty much cover the 4 biggie birthing options and midwives and OB's alike. Pretty awesome! Us doulas are trying to get them to cover a certain amount of doula costs too. Just imagine the amount of money the state could save in interventions and epidurals if women could get a doula in the room :D

Calliope's car seat came in last night, the Combi Coccoro. I'm going see how it fits with the two Radian's and then ship off to Amazon DS Radian tomorrow(did I mention after I got it all set up in the car I realized there was a tear in it UGH!) 

[1babysmom]

I am excited to buy a carseat soon too!! I think we are actually going to go with the new Graco Click Connect 40- most familiar with Graco and have the stoller adapter. I have no need for an infant seat that goes to 40lbs, but I also have no desire to get the SR22. That leaves the SR30 and the SR35....the 30 is out because it doesn't have base lock-off and I dont like how narrow it gets at the head, and the SR35 is our default seat but I dont like any of the current patterns except Flint and it's a more spendy seat (and all grey/black). Oh yeah, and the Click Connect 35 (LOVE the Tangerine print!!!) but again, no base lock-off. But the CC40 comes in "Moonstruck" which I actually like, and I was totally surprised to see that the CC40 looks almost SMALLER than the SR35 and doesn't feel any heavier. I like how it reclines more for a newborn, too, and can sit up more for an older baby. But anyway....it's not that much more than the SR35 if we trade in DD1's Recaro since she is in the booster now and the Recaro expires this year. (BRU is one of the only places selling the CC). Only downside is the CC isn't designed to work with Graco stroller adapters (which we have for our Phil &Teds stroller) but I know how to make it work out. . So yeah...

I have thought waaaaaay too much about this. LOL. Having the carseat ready always makes it so real to me, though. But it also makes the wait harder, I think, so i was planning on waiting longer to get a seat, but the trade in deal is only until 2/10.

[brooklyn_warbler]

I am so overwhelmed by carseat fear (we have to do the dreaded three-across and have to figure out the exact.right.combination somehow) that I keep procrastinating on it.  Bad idea because it's probably  going to take a lot of time to figure it out (how?!).  Not DEVASTATING because we live in NYC so we probably won't even need all three kids in the car for a while, but it's not like I'm going to want to do this with a newb in the house either.

My oldest (5) is 45lbs and SUPER tall (hence the weight...she's very thin and lanky and all limbs, but like her 6'5" pops, the height contributes to her weighing more than you would expect) so we could def switch to a booster but I'd only want to do that if it actually buys us some space to fit the other carseats.  If a booster is just as wide as a 5-point I'd rather keep her in that!
 

[jessmn]

What plans do you all have for Valentine's Day, if any?

My husband has been an absolute saint (well he always is) but throughout my pregnancy he has been the most amazing guy. Whenever I was sick, he was right there, he goes to all my appointments, doula appts, and 7 week birth class, he encourages me, listens to my craziness and anxiety, and now he basically tells me to sit on the couch with my feet up when I get home from work and he does all the cooking, cleaning, everything. He's pretty incredible. I sometimes follow him around with a chair and chat or direct things, haha. And I have NO IDEA what to do for Valentine's Day. We'll be lucky if we get out (I am much less mobile these days, sitting is fine but I don't do long distances or amounts of time standing) but I am a big crafter. I was thinking of making him a new lunch bag and filling it with things he likes or something....ah! I don't know! Nothing feels like enough!
 

[1babysmom]

Okay, this is random, but I'm getting annoyed with the armpit flab that always builds up for me during pregnancy.  Thankfully it tends to disappear (or at least shrink significantly) after baby comes but it's just flubs of tissue right now!!!!!  I feel like I have to keep tucking it into the sides of my bra. LOL  I've been working my arms out a TON this pregnancy (my lower body has been neglected in comparison, but hey...gotta do what you gotta do to avoid being in pain, right??!?), too bad it doesn't affect it.