February Thread « Back to Group Discussions

[Mamabeakley]

Hi, everybody -

It's a new month!  My oldest is very excited about this because his birthday is on the 24th, lol!

Let's see:  I'm back to work - it's 25 hours/week and I take the baby with me, sometimes with DH & the other kids to play with her, sometimes by myself.  It's going okay - I don't feel like I'm back on top of things or into my groove at work yet, but the being there (or working from home) with the baby is working pretty well. 

We've had TWO colds so far - the first one I had first and so I knew baby was getting it.  The second one, she got first so there were a couple of days where I was like, "what happened to my sleepy, content baby?" and then I got the cold and realized "oh, that's why she's been so grumpy!"  Both are over and done with now, though, without any big deal about them really.

I'm trying to get geared up to do our taxes.  We're back into the swing of homeschooling, and things are going better with that.  I was SOOOO over my head this pregnancy.  It was really stressful for everyone in the family and it's really a relief for everybody that I'm not pregnant anymore.

So somedy when this baby decides to sleep deeply at a time when our other kids are also asleep we will probably want to dtd . . . and maybe despite my total certainty that we are done having babies, we will be sticking with nfp & withdrawal.  I was thinking abt a Paraguard iud but have been reading scary things re: copper toxicity.  Hrmph.

How are ya'll?!?

[purposefuldoula]

nak one handed so bear with me!

Originally Posted by Mamabeakley 

Hi, everybody -

It's a new month!  My oldest is very excited about this because his birthday is on the 24th, lol!

Let's see:  I'm back to work - it's 25 hours/week and I take the baby with me, sometimes with DH & the other kids to play with her, sometimes by myself.  It's going okay - I don't feel like I'm back on top of things or into my groove at work yet, but the being there (or working from home) with the baby is working pretty well. 

We've had TWO colds so far - the first one I had first and so I knew baby was getting it.  The second one, she got first so there were a couple of days where I was like, "what happened to my sleepy, content baby?" and then I got the cold and realized "oh, that's why she's been so grumpy!"  Both are over and done with now, though, without any big deal about them really.

I'm trying to get geared up to do our taxes.  We're back into the swing of homeschooling, and things are going better with that.  I was SOOOO over my head this pregnancy.  It was really stressful for everyone in the family and it's really a relief for everybody that I'm not pregnant anymore.

So somedy when this baby decides to sleep deeply at a time when our other kids are also asleep we will probably want to dtd . . . and maybe despite my total certainty that we are done having babies, we will be sticking with nfp & withdrawal.  I was thinking abt a Paraguard iud but have been reading scary things re: copper toxicity.  Hrmph.

How are ya'll?!?

Self diagnosed, but I'm pretty sure I had copper toxicity with my paraguard two years ago. I was so tired all the time, depressed, and even startd getting migraines. all symptoms disappeared when i got the thing out, so yeah, i stay away from them now. DH is willing to get a vasectomy this summer, but lately, I'm not so sure. part of me wants to go through pregnancy again just to heal from everything i've gone through with judah. is that crazy or what? 

colds- we are there right now :(  yesterday judah was pretty stuffy and it was terrible over night. i didn't sleep so well since i was worrying about his breathing all night.  all he wants to do is nurse, so thats the agenda today, poor guy.

Kel- fingers crossed for you that dp gets house arrest. I so hope that works out for you! 

other than judah's cold over here, we are all doing alright. being able to get out has been great for us, as we were starting to get pretty stir crazy last month. oh, I also went and got my eyes checked. They changed during pregnancy and over the last two months so I got a prescription for glasses! I had always heard that could happen, but never actually knew someone that it happened to.  

Judah is almost two months old! How did that happen so fast?!  Here's a recent picture of him: 

I want to see everyone else's baby pictures!! Please share! 

[segolilymama]

HI ladies! I finally posted my birth story in another thread. I've been able to move forward with my doctoral work, and wanted to be sure I finished writing my story before I complicated it with hearing everyone else's stories, lol.  It's LONG, especially for such a short birth, but I love to write.

Talysen is so wonderful - he is almost always content & happy. He has the funniest 'man burps' though - he rarely burps like a baby & instead sounds like a full grown man in a belching contest. It's really funny, and catches me off guard every time.

I am really hoping that when my data analysis is complete, I will able to come interview some of you! I would love to meet some of the mamas from this list. My DP or mom will be travelling with me wherever I go to take care of Talysen while I do the interviews. I'm nervous about taking him everywhere, but excited to meet people & progress in mt doctoral work.

[purposefuldoula]

Jen, that is so exciting about your upcoming travel!! Also, hilarious about Talysen and his burping! Silly guy! 

[esp831]

Hi all!  I hear a baby stirring, so may be cut off or nak soon ;)

I've had an IUD before as well and I had very inconsistent and heavy periods.  I also personally was just uncomfortable with the idea of the foreign object in my uterus.  But, I know many women who use them quite comfortably and successfully. 

We got our taxes done lickety split because we needed a portion of the returns to pay back loans to our parents.  I am so glad to report that our return is large enough to keep us comfortable until I have some income again, wheewwww!!! 

Dawn-Sorry you all have been sick :(  Hope all is well now! 

Natalie-I also dealt with feelings of wanting another baby just to heal from a traumatic birth experience, it was a very emotional and confusing time for me.   Honestly, it took me about a year to come to terms with the experience and to feel at peace.  I was relieved to have made it to that place of calm, because that is when True was conceived!  Your feelings are not crazy at all.  I was lucky and empowered enough to have a completely wonderful birth with him to feel whole again.  Although he was conceived earlier than we planned, he was ready to be with us, and everything feels very right now.  I wish you luck on this journey mama!  Judah is a beautiful baby (those eyes!).  I will post a pic ASAP.

Jen-as I said on FB, Talysen's birth story is just lovely.  Good luck with your travel, what an amazing experience that will be.  I can't wait to hear how it goes!

Kiddos calling, will post more later!

[kel]

Hi there,

Pepper is 5 wks old now and is the sweetest little doll.  She still doesn't cry and seems to only get agitated in the evening sometimes when I eat too much dairy, (or maybe chocolate - I've been craving it all the time lately!)  A couple days ago she suddenly started smiling at me all the time! and talking/vocalizing more.   She also seems to be more aware now of when she isn't with me, when someone else is holding her, and will complain and fuss until I pick her back up and then immediately calm;)  We're in love.

I definitely haven't been "accomplishing" a whole lot, except holding her and taking care of her.  Usually about once a day I'm able to set her down in her car seat and she sleeps an hour or two and I get a bit of cleaning or mending, etc done that I can't do with one hand.  Sometimes I just eat, because it's so nice to eat with two hands!  I have been reading a lot - I'm halfway through The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (which I've always meant to read), and have plowed through The Girl With No Shadow by Joanne Harris (sequel to Chocolat) - I've been reading that one non stop for the past couple days and love it.  Yesterday was my birthday and my 12 yr old son baked me a rose water angel food cake (from scratch) with a lemon glaze - it was amazing!  And my mom sent me a pair of deep red miz mooz boots, so I am pretty happy!  Also, dp and I went thrift store shopping for the first time in months and out to sushi (for the first time in almost a year!) with the babe on Saturday - so all in all, a lovely birthday. 

Here are a couple pics

Edited by kel - 2/6/13 at 10:29am

[chicajones]

Will put more later (baby is about to wake) but had a question! My bleeding stopped about two weeks ago and then this morning I had some pink/red spotting. Nothing much the rest of the day, although still some pink spotting last I checked a half hour ago. Is this normal? I was thinking DH and I would finally try "hanging out" this weekend but I want to make sure I'm totally healed!

[kel]

Eyesight - yes, mine is definitely noticeably worse, but I've read that can happen temporarily with pregnancy, so I'm waiting it out a few more months before I go get my eyes checked.

Birth control - vasectomy is probably top on the list, but in the meantime it'll be withdrawl with nfp (as soon as I get my period back).  Dp would kind of like another babe, but I think I'm good! 

And chica, I'm guessing you're totally healed by now - I think you should go ahead!  I had such light bleeding after this birth that at 5wks now dp and I have "hung out" a few times already - it does start up a little light bleeding sometimes, but no pain and I think it's normal to have some spotting now and then, even after primary healing is done.   

[sunseeker]

Chica - I have been having the same issue. I'm 8 weeks postpartum, and had stopped bleeding but then had light spotting this week. What gives? It seems normal I guess, but weird.

Birth control: I am hoping my dh will go for a vasectomy, but he is hesitant. Just doesn't like the idea of it. Which I understand, and yet I have had lots of procedures I didn't like the idea of! And neither of us like the idea of a surprise pregnancy.

Esp - hooray for big tax refunds! We are getting a nice one too, and we are grateful to little Thora for arriving before 2013.

Thora had a terrible terrible bout of baby acne which is improving, but not entirely gone. Tried breastmilk on it, but didn't make a difference. She also has cradle cap eyebrows! She is the sweetest baby, so easy going, but perhaps not the most photogenic right now.

She loves co sleeping :)

I love all your baby pictures! If I had any mb skills, I'd post one too.

[Jackies]

I keep thinking I'll have time to write a nice long post and do personals, but oh well. I'm loving the pics of the babes.

I had a copper IUD last time and liked it. That's probably what I will do.

My bleeding had stopped at 2 weeks but will have a bit here and there every few days. Quite wierd.

Working outside the house and pumping is going fine since I haven't been gone long enough to pump anywhere else. DH uses milk I pump here. But I haven't been able to get much work done here on the computer. I can only type when he's sleeping in the Moby, and it kills my back on my knee chair. Baby waking :)

[chicajones]

Sunseeker, try coconut oil for the cradle cap. It worked like a charm for our guy!

Kel, those photos are adorable!! Such a sweetheart.

ESP, so nice you got a good return! We actually had to pay in quite a bit more than I was expecting. Not fun!

Thanks for the insight on the bleeding! It was just that one time, nothing else, and we "hung out" a few days later. It was good! A little nervous, but good. We need to figure out BC...we'll probably just do NFP, but until I get a period I'm thinking condoms.

I had a total "mom brain" moment the other day. I was leaving a freelance meeting and set my MacBook Air on top of my car as I was loading up the baby...I bet you can guess what happened next. I got home (an hour away) and realized it was gone. Seriously awful. We drove back and retraced our steps, nothing. I could snack myself, I still can't believe it.

In other news, Charlie is 10.8lbs and 2 months! Also, we are moving to Wales in one week!!! So much craziness right now. I can't wait for a less temporary home and a routine and getting settled!

[Jackies]

Chica, a transcontinental move is so exciting! And so nice to have the uncertainty over and begin your new adventure!

[segolilymama]

Chica - congrats on the move - can't wait to hear how that all goes! Such a bummer about your laptop though, grr!