May 2004----> October 2006. Still at it. - Page 4

[KKmama]

Jess, therapy is a great idea. Seriously, it kept me from going totally bezerk during this last pg. You're not alone. And pg takes a big toll. Be kind to yourself.

Just popping in to say that we had Jacquie and Mr. G visit today!!!! (I'm smiling from ear to ear.) It was a lot of fun. I wish Jacquie lived closer. And for some strange reason, I feel like I've known her for a long time. (Maybe it's because I've "known her" for ~3 yrs. now... isn't it weird how time flies?)

[jstar]

well the plan has always been to work up until birthing #2. (i waddled my fat self into work right up until birthing isaac - 41 weeks and 3 days!) it is just that adding daycare costs for the 2nd child tip the scales towards the financial 'what's the point' arena. it is worth me working financially with isaac in daycare. AMAZING how the world works though. i just told my boss on monday that i was considering the maternity leave of no return (~3 years off). and i've been cogitating about that because she is having her own crisis of burnout. and i've been her trusty sidekick for EIGHT years so i know this is big. (oh the guilt) we got an email from sidekick #2 today that he has taken another job. the place is falling apart and it is just what she needed! so she came and talked to me and i think the company will disband but still work for the cool industrial clients on an at-home on call basis. so maybe i will get my cake and eat it too?

amazing how life can change so much in an hour. but yeah i need therapy. BIG TRANSITIONS for me. i cried when my boss came to talk to me even though i think it is all change for the better. trust the pregnant lady to cry

kk that is so cool you and jacquie had fun (and the kids of course!)

[elsanne]

Jstar how awesome that you have a boss you can cry with. I do too so I know the value...a friendship! I remember you talking about how your boss is like family. Indeed the work from home thing rocks, and I hope you get your cake and eat it too.

speaking of, it is a blustery rainy day here, maybe dropping to (gasp!) 60 or so, all the Mexicans are bundled up like it's 30 below. I baked an apple cake that rocks my world. I am melancholy too, the grey/clouds biz. *sigh* I don't think I could thrive in the grey anymore.

ack. she's awake.

[Jacqueline]

Just chiming in here from a friend's computer out of town to say "hi!" We are in Denver until this afternoon and that is why G and I were able to see KK and clan. It was so great to see her and T, Z & L! L is just about the cutest little baby I've seen in a while and she is so calm. She also has a great smile and G enjoyed showing her the soccer ball. G loved playing with Z & T and it was great to see them laughing together. It was like G and Z had a little toddler language they totally understood. Very fun day!

We're off to pick up my mom at the airport and then we head back home for the 3-hour drive.

Jstar-glad you're feeling somewhat better. I know lots of women go through this, but that doesn't mean it's easier. I hope the work sitch works out.

We better get on the road. Loving the cute stories, and I'll share mine eventually. Suffice it to say that most sentences include the word "soccer" "ball" or "airplane."

[elsanne]

Jacqueline, what a little BOY you have!! soccer, ball, airplane!!!

Been a GOOD WEEKEND so far! I haven't said that in ages..well..since A was born...

much love to all. feelin groovy and expansive, unlike yesterday when i felt small and contracted.

[mamameg]

Soooooooo.... Elsanne. If someone wanted to, hypothetically, come down there to see you, what airport might one fly into? :

[elsanne]

Well, hypothetically, the airport would be Leon, Mexico, whose airport code is, hypothetically speaking, BJX.
Since it is a small airport, it is a much mellower arrival than, say, Mexico City, which is cheaper, and whose airport code is MEX.
MC is 4 hours away by bus, whereas Leon is 1.5 hrs by shuttle.

[elsanne]

And I would be SOOO PSYCHED TO RECEIVE A MMF VISIT!!!!

[fiddlefern]

I haven’t posted in a week so ya’ll are doomed to a long post…

Finally starting to feel like myself again. I went to work this weekend, which means I got a good night’s sleep for the first time in two weeks (the last time I worked), and it did wonders of good. I’m itching, itching, to get out and see Claudia and her babe. Soon! And Claudia, I’m so glad to hear that Stefan is eating and growing well. I remember very well the details of our early talks about our first babes and how we agonized.

Jstar- Yipes! Things are changing fast in your world. I am soooooooooooo glad you are looking into therapy. I seriously don’t think I would have made it this far in my current pregnancy without it- too many crises. I can honestly say that I’m feeling pretty happy about being pregnant, having two, and having a boy right now, and that’s saying a LOT.

I am so sorry that you are sick and exhausted and having to work and take care of a toddler. It sucks. It really does. Even if they want to understand, our partners just can’t, because they can’t get how _TIRED_ we are. I feel ya, mama. Let us know how the ultrasound goes, and how many you’ve got growin in there. If it makes you feel any better, I was scared about twins this time too, but there’s just one in there.

Heatherfeather- sending you healthy computer vibes , and condolences on the dumb OT . How was the trip?

Jaqueline- how exciting that you finally got an IRL MMF experience. , and KK I’m glad to hear your kiddos had a blast too.

Lisa- glad to hear the pregnancy is going well for Alison. What month is she due? I can’t keep track. I think ya’ll are the first in line of the next crop of babies, am I right?

Sarah- In some ways, it must be harder to have a super-verbal child than a low-verbal child. Lily is so on-the-ball developmentally, it must be frustrating when she does those infuriating things we expect of little ones who _can’t_ express themselves. I hope she finds a consistent (reasonable!) sleep pattern soon.

Megan-

"Why do you take a nap for Daddy and not for me?" She replied, "Because Daddy gets angry." I said, "Well, Mama gets angry, too." Her response? "Yeah, but I don't care." Yeaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh....

Oooh, it’s a good thing Luke’s not that verbal.

Renae- I sometimes feel bad for leaving L on the weekend too, especially because he sometimes freaks out on Sat. am when I’m not there to nurse. Dh has started calling me at work during the freak-out so L can hear my voice. Maybe that would work for Rowan.

Elsanne- 60 and blustery? Sounds like my kind of weather. This fall mistiness is just what I love. It puts me in a great mood. I’m sure my ancesters came from the cool blustery coast of somewhere. I’ll leave the sunny skies to you.

Hi Sherri and Emily, and anyone else I’ve missed!!!

[mcsarahb]

Fiddle - thanks for your thoughts. That is really insightful. DH really doesn't get it - he expects her to "use her words" and expects those words to be logical and mature...even when she is crying from exhaustion at 11 pm. I, of course, am like, "Honey, she's 2!" But he insists she should be able to reason with us at all times...

I'm glad you're rested and currently in a good place with your preg. And when's your due date again, too?

Jacqueline - Your trip sounds fab. Glad you and KK had a good time!

jstar - wowee, lots of big stuff happening in your world. I really hope the sickies don't last too long. And I agree with everyone; therapy can work wonders at this time. Have you heard of Baby Blues Connection? They do prenatal stuff, too, and have groups, phone counseling, etc. It's all women who have gone through it before.

I was up with the sun and a 5:30 am nursing; Lily and DH are still sleeping but I can't sleep. I've got tons of stuff to do today - school and otherwise - and just want to work in the yard. Ho hum.

We got Lily's hair cut yesterday - a full-on bob, really short in back. Kept the front long. I love it! So easy to comb. Ahhhhh. And she was really good for the woman who cut it - we got it done at Bishop's for you PDXers. It's a funky walk-in place where all the stylists have pink hair or mohawks, it seems. Then both DH and I got our hair cut, too. Family day.

OK, off to get a little homework done if I can. *Mwah* to all.

Sarah

[elsanne]

ff nice ddddc!!!

[TurboClaudia]

just a post to say i'm reading along with you all just rarely have a hand free to type...

MMF!

~claudia

[mamameg]

If you thought the toddler tantrums were bad...

... just WAIT for the teen tantrums. Oh. My. God. Losing my mind. :

[TurboClaudia]

hey, kk... nice ddddc...

yours, too, fiddle...

~claudia

[elsanne]

tc thinking of you! Strange to not see you posting much but I think I know why....

meg so bummin' about the teen tantrums. I can't even fathom...just getting through today...

[jstar]

a lazy weekend for me. i don't thrive in the gray either. i think that's part of my problem actually. summer is over and it is getting darker and darker and darker : i am excited about the holidays though.

i have been massively lazy this weekend and it feels good. it IS hard having a toddler and working and battling this nausea. harder than i thought it would be. my friend has been trying to get me out to do something all weekend and sent me an 'are you pg or disabled?' text message. i can't wait til she gets pg someday!! it feels like a disability right now i know it will get better during the glorious 2nd tri and then i'll be groaning towards the end. the nausea just goes in waves but i've been able to eat much better this weekend than all week.

i doubt it is twins. just a fear. i doubt i'll have any more than the 1 u/s at 20 weeks. that was all i had with isaac.

i have heard of the baby blues connection. i left a msg with one therapist already so if i don't hear back i will try them.

dh is down in the basement working none of the 4 windows open so there was only the door for ventilation with my previous painting. they broke out one window and are putting a new one in. the sound of breaking glass is always disconcerting. i'm scared to go look : and i bought a pretty blue paint for the walls ...can't wait to go see it.

i haven't planted anything in my yard (and i have bought about 10 shrubs and all those bulbs in the last 2 weeks). i'm just not feelin the umph right now. mostly because i have to dig up grass. lots and lots of grass. i want about half the grass we have right now. the shrek costume is almost done though. isaac is napping right now so i can make the final push


i bet lily's bob looks adorable

and i'm glad you got a good night's sleep at work beth. i bet your belly is a-growin these days!

ok off to check if the house across the street is really having an open house like the sign says. it was a crazy falling-down wreck habitated only by racoons and has been under a huge remodel for a year. it doesn't even look done but i think it is on the market now. so maybe we'll get new neighbors soon.......

[mcsarahb]

You know you don't have to dig up grass to get new beds...just layer on newspaper/cardboard/dirt/mulch/compost/whatever and dig holes for the new stuff. This is what I did when I planted my bulbs last weekend. Here're some links:

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf582744.tip.html
http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/lasagna_gardening.htm
http://www.bconnex.net/~carolw/lasagna1.html

[elsanne]

Sarah, want to see lily's bob! Did you document the moment, pink mohawks and all?

[mcsarahb]

Pics in YG. But not at the shop - just later at home. And her stylist didn't have a pink mohawk; I've just seen them in Bishops before...

[fiddlefern]

Awe, I feel special. Posty-pants. Tee hee. Love KK's ddddc as well.

Hmmmmm, Elsanne was the first to notice....

I am due in early/mid February. So I'm 5 months along, and definitely sporting an undeniable pregers belly at this point.

Sarah- Luke's former nanny from our spiritual community just gave birth two weeks ago (a wee bit after Claudia). She lives ONE BLOCK from your house. I went to visit her for about 20 minutes on Friday before work, and wished I had time to swing by your house and see if you were home. I am worried about her- she doesn't feel like eating, and that to me is not a good sign.

I wish I was not sick (feeling bad again) and exhausted and pregnant, and I could give more attention to the two new mamas in my life. Well, Claudia, you're not technically a new mama, but you know what I mean. Glad to see you're able to read along, if not type right now.

Megan- sheesh- teens and tots. Quite a job you have.

Jess- I seriously don't know how you do it all: work, be pregnant, AND make a costume. I'm going to stop by children's exchange like two days before halloween and pick up whatever cheap used costume fits. I got him a super-cute poo honey-pot costume there last year for $10. Planting things: that sounds like another job for dh, if you ask me. Hope Sarah's tips can save you some time.

Night night!