Weekly Chat, June 27-July (!!) 3

[Awaken]

Hello,

Thought I'd start our weekly thread- didn't see one. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Had my big u/s this morning! I was so excited to see the baby, but also really nervous b/c you never know what you're going to find out. Well, for once ds behaved for the most part and was really interested in the screen. The GREAT news is that everything is perfect, normal, and healthy! S/he wasn't moving around much, but we did see his or her little legs and feet cross and uncross, put it's hands to it's face, etc. The feet are on my right side where I feel movement, and the head is down and butt on my left side. It's nice to be able to picture what it's doing in there! The tech and the doc were so happy to have someone who didn't want to know the sex, they said we are few and far between and it's nice not to have that pressure sometimes of getting it right!

It's strange- we had ds' u/s at almost 20 weeks and he was a tiny baby floating and swimming all around in a little sea of fluid- this one was at 18 wks and looked much bigger, and was all curled up and seemed to fill the entire space- why would that be? Any ideas? I am measuring exactly right based on conception date and previous u/s.

Other news: we spent my birthday w/e with the IL's, had a terrific time at the beach, and took ds on kiddie rides on the boardwalk. At the beach while I sat there the baby finally started moving discernably! The only negative was that the AC broke at dh's grandmother's house where we were staying, so I ended up being awake for over 36 hrs straight so was totally out of it on my birthday. Then we moved over to MIL's house and did a little better the next night. They made me a nice bday dinner and had cake and everything, and dh gave me a neat necklace and card. I still haven't recovered and am about to go take a nap!

[PicnicBear]

Happy B-day Itsybitsy. Wow, we're not doing the US so it's cool to hear about it -- I'm sure it would be exciting. We haven't heard the heartbeat yet, either, but this little guy is really kicking or punching pretty hard to it's hard to imagine the heart not beating.

This week I need to do some boring desk work and I totally need to self-motivate to do it. Maybe I should just disconnect my connection to the internet since I seem to proscrastinate so badly. At least when I do my lab work I go in the lab and work.

I know I've mentioned it but I will again since it's the thing I am most happy about -- I feel a lot better now and I can eat. And I crave healthy foods -- today I have already had 2 deviled eggs (good, local eggs) and a pint of good raw milk (local, grass-fed). The CSA farm has been overloading us with greens though, and there are only so many salads one can eat. I might cook some to decrease the volume. I could also do some juicing. Can't wait till a little later in the season when there is more variety in the boxes so I can make the cuke salads, beet salads, etc. Just lots of greens for now.

Oh, we have our cloth diaper shower date for late August and I registered with Vermont Diaper Company, and I have made some purchases of cute soakers, a variety so I can see different styles and what I like. And, I have taken up knitting . .

We are supposed to be getting back from our trip to Greece today (which we cancelled due to me feeling like sh*t). I am so glad we didn't go since I feel a lot better now and the baby seems strong. Greece can wait. I do feel a little twinge of guilt but I know it was the right thing to throw in the towel when we did.

OK, that's practically my life story.

[samsmamma]

Happy Birthday istybitsy!

We had a great weekend - took Sam to the museum of modern art on Saturday - turns out his fave artist is Mondrian and he literally couldnot pull himself away from the painting Broadway Boogie Woogie. i was pretty impressed. He also liked the sculpture, but interestingly asked why the Duchamp Bicycle Wheel is art. A good question, all things considered. Then we did some shopping up at Target - got him a bunch of arts and crafts stuff, so he was on top of the world, and then I was done. The heat and all the moving around was enough for me! Yesterday we did nothing. Well, we did laundry, then DH woke up and we did some arts and crafts (Sam just wants to do his arts and play with his Thomas the Tank Engine guys right now, both of which are nice and low-key for exhausted me!), took naps, made dinner, watched half the yankee game and went to bed!

Tomorrow I have the first visit with the social worker about the PPD, so I'm excited about that. I really want to avoid that again. Will let you all know what I find out.

I also found my Susun Weed book over the weekend - yay! - so I'm getting back up to speed on my herbs and stuff and will get some pregnancy tea this week.

Other than that...Turkey is moving around every day, but still very very gently. No big kicks or antyhing yet. Work will be kind of crazy this week I think since I have jury duty next week and then am traveling pretty much all of the following week. Next Friday (7/8) is my u/s and the 13th is my next MW visit. The 13th could also be a good day at work...we have a contest here for marketing programs and one of ours was entered and if we win, I win money! So keep your fingers crossed, because I could use it! Then vaca is coming up on the 23rd, so we have to start getting ready for that too. Lots going on!

[HoneyTree]

Happy birthday, itsybitsy!

And plagio, glad you've joined the ranks of the needle workers! (I'm really looking forward to seeing your LTK cardie!)

Samsmamma, I have the Susan Weed childbearing book permanently checked out of the library -- what a great resource!

So far, being pregnant has made me a much less contentious person. This fact came into focus this past week when I felt like ignoring a little barb from my mother about my politics and a snipey remark from my sister about my eating habits. Whereas before, a lengthy, heated discussion or an equally snotty remark would have followed both these comments, I felt myself simply rolling my eyes (on the phone) and steering the conversation into new terrain. To be sure, I've had moments of ire these past 5 months, but mostly I just feel like calming the waters. This is a very new personality trait for me, and while I doubt it will fit for long, it seems to work well for having a little baby inside, who I think is feeling every bit of the energy I let pass through me. (It must be working, because at just over 20 weeks, I have felt no strong kicks or puches -- I am indeed housing a tranquil buddah baby.)

My summer classes began today. I'm reading, for the first time in my life, Shakespeare. For this class, I begin with a biography and end with a play of my choosing. I think I'm going to go for A Midsummer Night's Dream -- I really dig fairies and I loved the costumes in the movie version with Michelle Pfieffer and Kevin Kline.

And I feel great. My headaches have subsided. My UTI's at bay. I'm sleeping pretty well at night, and my belly keeps growing. July looks pretty good from here!

[beachbaby]

Sounds like everyone is having a good week so far!
and happy birthday itsybitsy!

I had a family crisis over the weekend , but things seem to be improving now. My mom overdosed on her migraine medication and has been in the hospital since Saturday. It appears to be accidental, but she has a history of depression and anxiety, so we spent a lot of time wondering if this was a suicide attempt. Even though, now, I am pretty confident it wasn't, it's clear that she is over-medicating herself and isn't in control of her health, physical or mental. My sister and I (her only real support system) are at a loss as to how to help her and are just mentally exhausted. It also brought up a lot of overwhelming feelings about this pregnancy (how can I handle a baby *and* this sort of family stress; what kind of mental illness issues might I be passing on to this baby; etc.). Sigh.

On a postive note, I've been feeling lots of movement from this baby and DH felt it the other night, too. And my best girlfriend is moving ahead with the adoption process after a year of infertility issues. I am so happy that we're gonna both be mamas soon and that we'll have eachother as support. That, and the issues with my mom make me realize how important it is to surround yourself with people who are positive and supportive.

enough rambling....have a good rest of week, all!

[Belleweather]

Beachbaby: Oh my goodness, what a weekend! I'm glad that it appears to be accidental, and your mother and your family will be in our thoughts.

My weekend was exhausting, my father in law was up to visit the family so we spent the weekend surrounded by relatives. I'm kind of an introvert, so it was really trying. Plus, they all smoke like a coal factory, so it's been non-stop humidifiers, hot showers, and neti pots since we got back. BUT, it's done and since DH's family isn't the gathering kind, we don't have to do it again for a good long while!

My work is moving offices this week, and our big ultrasound is on Thursday, so everything feels kind of stirred up. Plus we're shopping for cloth diapering supplies this weekend with my mother and I'm still all up in the air about what to get. The baby is kicking like it's taken up cossack dance, and I seem to have personally hit the wild mood swings area of pregnancy -- I'm crying and laughing at the same time, sometimes for the same reason. For a usually level-headed person, sobbing because your tomatoes wilted in the 96 degree heat is a little off-putting. I swear, if it wasn't for rescue remedy I'd be afraid DH would lock me up!

I'm definately wishing for a much more peaceful week for all of the rest of you ladies!

[Slackermom]

Happy birthday, Itsybitsy! :

Not much new here. I'm feeling more movement, but the placenta is right in front and quite low, so it's preventing me from feeling too much. My DD and I have yet another cold...there is nothing worse than having a runny nose in the heat of summer! I start prenatal yoga this weekend, which I'm really looking forward to. It's the first time I've made time to focus exclusively on this baby during this pregnancy!

[crsta33]

Happy birthday, Itsybitsy! And I'm with you, this baby feels alot bigger at 19 weeks than the first did. I already feel feet at the right top of my uterus and baby must be stretching. I get to see the little turkey on Thursday. I'm excited and nervous...especially since this will either confirm or dash all hopes of twins. :


Samsmama, best of luck with your visit. I hope she can give you some really helpful info. If you're comfortable, please share how the visit goes and some of the things she says might help. I had some depression after my first and it was pretty scary.

Beachbaby, I know what you mean. My family has substance abuse problems, depression, and eating disorders. I myself am prone to depression. I worry about subjecting my children to my problems. But I think it really will all be okay...I know the things to look for and steps to take to make it better if it happens. I just hope I can help protect them from that genetic predisposition for addiction.

I'm feeling better with less dizziness and an improved attitude. I didn't realize lack of balance could so seriously affect your mood. Baby is nice and active, Kenna is amazing us everyday, and I have a couple of new diaper covers on the way.

Life is pretty good. (at least for the moment)

Christa

[3for3hb]

Happy b-day itsybitsy!

My weekend was alright. We went to a graduation party for two of dh's cousins on Saturday up in NJ. It was exhausting because it was a little over an hour drive there and then no AC the whole afternoon. Willem had tons of kids to play with ... God I really need to meet other mothers around here to get him some playmates. He spends his days getting pissed off at me because I simply don't have the energy of a 16 month old to run around and play.
Anyway, Sunday we went for a family bike ride (6.5 miles!!!) at the beautiful nature preserve around the corner. I wish I could get up earlier when it's cooler to go for a ride more often... I'm a little scared of getting heat stroke or something like that and then be alone with my toddler. I just can't get out of bed early in the morning like I used to. Maybe it's a sign that this baby is going to be a sleep-in baby as opposed to my wake up at the crack of dawn toddler. That would be a nice change.
I wish I was exercising more, it's just too expensive to attend any classes and too hot to do anything that would make me hotter outside... sucks. After our bike ride we came home and rested a little and then went to dh's aunts house and spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool. That was nice, even got some color... definitely worth it even though I'm not too crazy about exposing myself to chlorine. I might go today again if my MIL doesn't call me back. We were supposed to go do something today.

Is the general consensus that everyone is feeling generally exhausted???? I know I was busy over the weekend and everything but whew... I have all these things I want to be doing and I'm zilch on the energy. I've been eating real well and super hungry yesterday and today. Maybe having a growth spurt, I don't know.

Oh yeah, had a little meltdown and reamed dh about not helping out around here and thinking that I'm his housewife... that I didn't just spend the past 8 years in school getting my degree to now pick up after him. I was admittedly overly harsh and the whole time I was crying/yelling I was thinking, "come on, be rational!" But I think it was just a lot of tension that needed to come out. Need to find a better way of coping because dh woke up in an irritable mood today and left likewise. He wasn't mad at me, said he just didn't sleep well... and oh, well, now I feel like it's all my fault and want to cry again.

THESE RAGING HORMONES ARE ANNOYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[*Amy*]

Hi mamas!! I'm back from our Texas trip (it was great) but now I have to run and pick up my dog (a 3-hour drive, long story) so I probably won't really be on til tomorrow. It's going to take me like 5 hours to catch up on all of the posts from the week!

Talk to y'all soon.....

[MamaFern]

happy birthday itsybitsy!

welcome back AMy!

williesmama: im exhausted some days for sure, but not most days.. i try to take my b vitamins in the morning and it really helps boost my energy level. and if i eat lots of fresh fruits, nuts and veggies in the day i feel a lot less heavy and huge.. i know it sounds werid, but i feel like my body can hardly handle carbs anymore, i just get so stuck up. my digestion is definitly slowing down these days.. im really into eating dried fruit too :LOL

well, i have a midwife appointment today. im excited, i look forward to maybe hearing baby with the fetascope.

baby has been quiet the last day, im not worried, but i wonder why some days i can feel so much and others when im not sure if ive felt baby all day.. do you feel that way, or am i a freak? maybe its just positioning, or a day when she sleeps a lot and only goes crazy when im fast asleep..

i walked a LOT yesterday, so maybe thats why. i never feel the baby when im up and about unless ive just eaten. but when i lay down in bed i usually get thumops ans bumps and flips. last night none.. but then again i fell asleep pretty fast.

[MamaFern]

well i spoke too soon.. i ate cinnimon french toast with maple syrup for breakfast and baby just started bouncing all is well :LOL

[flapjack]

Things are calming down a little bit here after the stresses of last week. I just let everything go, apart from keeping the dog walked, kids and animals fed and getting some food into myself occasionally- and now, I have more energy, but the house looks like a bombshell hit it. My b/f and her 3 month old came round and helped me start work, which was just such an incredibly sweet thing to do. It looks like the worst of the storm is over now- though I really need to find some way of not letting other peoples emotional stresses get to me. It's weird- because I'm so open to and communicating with the little loganberry, I think I'm more open to other people's negativity, too.
Baby is fine- moving lots and kicking from time to time, but definitely less than before, and we can play spot-the-body-part now too, which is also very exciting- I have a pair of feet tucked up next to my ribs on my left hand side quite often, and a very cute and perky bottom waving around in the air, like s/he just doesn't care. Very sweet. The scan isn't until a week on Tuesday, but I'm still excited.
The boys are fine- they got to cuddle Briony (the 3 month old) and Alex got to change a nappy today- very funny. He made a very good job of it, though, and cuddled her off to sleep. He might be a lousy role model as far as behaviour goes, but he gets AB (attachment brothering) down to a T.

[BensMom]

Its so good to hear everyones updates.

LOL Belleweater, I am quite fond of my Rescue Remedy as is DH. It really is amazing how I can take some when I start to feel really high strung and wound tight and it calms me. Glad its safe during pregnancy!

I have a fair amount of enery, at least enough to get through the day and then fall exhasuted into my bed at 9:30/10pm. But like changing a load of laundry from the washer to the dryer and then walking upstairs - GEEZ. I need to lay down and take a breather after that. Imagine if I lived in the days of hand washing and line drying everything. :LOL

On the DH-job front, we might be hearing good news this week. He had a long talk with the CEO on Monday (man, this is drawn out) and the guy seemed to talk a lot about "when you start..." or "you will be working on..." so DH feels positive. If the salary is decent, I will probably be out of my FT job by end of July/beginning of August! Woo hoo. This will be the most intensive job DH has ever had, so even if it werent for the money, we both agreed that I would need to be home to take on the bulk of the house/child care so he can focus on his new career. And poor DH has been in a career slump for so long (dead end job, decent money but no challenge and no advancement) so i am happy for him to have a chance at something where he can really grow and stretch himself. And I am happy to be a SAHM! Even if it means we will have to learn how to live on one salary. Sounds like a good project for me.

I have a MW appt this afternoon and am stressed about the scale. Trying not to think about it. They dont like how much weight I have gained. I know I need to eat better and exercise, but lately with everything going on here, I am just lucky to make it through each day with my sanity. My hope is that once I quit, I will have time for nutritious meals and exercise (DS will be school PT in Aug, so I can get to the gym).

Anyway, not much else to report. Last night, I think the baby did a side flip. I felt a stretching and slight pain on one side of my uterus and then on the other. Like it was laying sideways and stretched out. Pretty cool. Other that that, just the occassional kick when I am sitting especially.

And my chiro is doing a good job at keeping my pelvis pain in check. Had and adjustement yesterday and have not felt any SI Joint pain since and the Pubic Symphisis is quiet. I am trying not to worry about how much worse these two things are going to get as we get further along.

Oh and 20 weeks today!!!

[MamaFern]

you know you CAN say you dont want to be weighed.. my midwife didnt even ask because she knew from last time that i didnt want to. i had issues about Not gaining though and my other midwives made me feel weird about it, but she didnt at all.. im not skinny, so im not that concerned, and my body knows what it needs. do what you feel comfortable with and nothing else. feel empowered to be your own caregiver as well.

[crsta33]

What is Rescue Remedy? What's in it and where can I get some?

Christa

[BensMom]

Rescue Remedy

[Kavita]

Jenn--glad that things are looking good with your DH's job prospect. Do you sometimes think that there is almost a weird balance between a couple in terms of career success? I've been thinking about that lately--I've been the one who earns the most money, and DH has really been in a job and career rut since we've met. I'm also gearing up to try to quit my full time job after the baby comes and now I seem to be sort of a pariah employment-wise because I'm pregnant. But DH is suddenly on fire! He's got a few prospects, so things seem more hopeful. He submitted a resume on Friday morning and the guy called him three hours later for a phone interview, and wanted him to come over right away to meet in person! (Same university, different department.) He couldn't drop his work and run over there, but he went yesterday and it seems that he's a strong candidate, although the guy said he had 4 or 5 other good prospects too. I think his second job is really helping him, and giving him more confidence. It's not going to replace enough of my income to allow me to quit, but it's a nice supplement and it's helping us get some of our debt paid off anyway before the baby comes.

Another friend of mine just got a great new job as a programmer, after many failed attempts at a programming job. I'm happy for him, but it's making me a little sad and nervous to feel like everyone's star is rising but my career is going down the toilet. Not that I'm that committed to my full time job as a major career path, I'd much rather practice midwifery part time and stay home with my kid, but after a long hard haul to get to a point where I have a decent professional type of job, it's a little nervewracking to feel like I may be just screwing myself professionally.

Other than that, things are going well. I am finding it hard to eat as well as I think I should, but I'm working on it. DH and I are taking Friday off and we have Monday off, so we are going on a little short trip. Don't know exactly where, but we're thinking maybe Santa Fe. The decluttering and cleaning and organizing are going pretty well. For the tiling we had to take all the books and CD's and such off the shelves to move them all, and so we're sorting and getting rid of a bunch and dusting them and arranging them nicely. We started doing Flylady in February or so, and it's been one of the best things I've done in terms of getting my house in order. The funny thing is that DH is totally on board and loves it too!

[MelW]

So good to hear about everyone's lives this week- I'm still trying to catch up and "get to know" everyone and this really helps.

Glad to hear so many stories about organizing and decluttering to get ready for our new babies. I've been on a bit of an organizational kick for a few months, but mostly in the list-making and planning stages. But we have a lovely crack in the foundation and a leak in our office/spare room that we discovered last week, so the office is sealed off because of mould until the foundation is repaired, and we've had to move lots of stuff (computer, filing cabinet, etc.) into the living room. Living in the clutter for a while has really convinced dh of the need to do a comlete "summer clean" and go through the whole house to get rid of junk.

But first we are having a vacation! It's the countdown until friday now, when we get out of the city!!! I'll be happy to leave the home repair chaos behind and spend lots of time outside at the river, the beach, hiking in the forest, visiting with family, going to the farm market, mmmm.... Only two more night shifts!

Also had a visit with my midwife this morning. Baby wriggled a ton as she was feeling my belly, then gave a giant kick that we could all see- ripples across my belly! I can feel lots of kicks against my hand, but I've never seen any before...

[BensMom]

MW appt update. Chatted for 45 mins about DH's job, my sons autism, our birth network, friends who had babies. Pretty cool.

Stupid, stupid blood pressure was high today. 140/74. I do not want to be risked out of a HB. There are no good alternatives around here. The hospitals suck. And the only way to have a normal birth is to come in pushing. And that would stress my DH out to no end (not to mention the fights to get OUT of the hospital. UGHUGHUGHUGH!!!!!) ok, breathe....

So anyway, need to exercise like a fiend this month. Not sure where I will find the time or energy, but must do it nonetheless. Need to find a walking buddy or something.

Gained 4 lbs, which is not so bad, so at least my weight gain is slowing down. Urine fine. Measured around 18, which is a little weird, since I feel soooo big. And she tried the fetoscope and didnt hear anything. I wasnt surprised, since I have so much fluff. But since I feel lots of movement, I delcined the dopplar.

That's about it for now. Dinner is waiting.