~*~May 2004 Moms~*~ One More Month to Three! - Page 6

[TurboClaudia]

omigosh omigosh omigosh i have just had 4 hours from h*ll...

i have a monthly meeting of doulas i go to, and after bill came home early and we ate dinner early, and i had a few more crying jags, my head was feeling funny but i often get a weird headachey feeling after crying, so i took an ibuprofen and drove off with stefan for my meeting. about 10 minutes into the drive, i thought maybe i should just turn around and go home and call them to say i'm not coming. nah, it'll pass. another few minutes later, same thought. by the time i'm about 8 minutes away, i'm furiously rubbing my left temple and trying not to throw up in my car. i call bill, tell him i'm going there, but i'm going to sit in my car for a bit and then turn around and come home. by the time i get there, stefan woke up and i needed to use the bathroom, so i grab him and go into the room and hand him off to my friend and tell her about this headache (i called it a migraine, but i'm not sure if that's what it was but it probably was) and run off to the bathroom to puke. i don't puke but i still feel like i have to.

i decide to call my friends who live just down the street and go to their house to see if i feel any better. when i get there, i realize there is no way in h*ll i can drive home later, so i have her call bill to come and get me. i go lay down and pull the covers over my head in their guest room and they tend to my unhappy tired baby along with their own cling-monster 9 month old. i finally puke and i feel a lot better but my head is still aching like the dickens on my left temple. after bill gets there, i finally emerge from their guest bedroom, nurse an already pajama-ed stefan while hiding my eyes and rubbing my temple and we pop both kids in the car and bill drives home while i pull the hood of my sweat shirt over my eyes and snooze. i feel tons better now, and i even was able to transfer stefan from the carseat, remove his sweater, hat & shoes, and put him in the bed without him waking.

going to sleep now.

thanks for all your thoughts. i will try to respond to your questions tomorrow.

~claudia

[Miss Juice]

TC
I hope today is better.

[Mama Faery]

I have been online WAY too long already : But I Wanted to give TC some serious s! I hope today is a better one, sweet mama.

to the rest of you! More later...

[elsanne]

Aw, TC. : You need a vacation. Me too! I sure hope today dawns brighter for you. No need to answer my question, unless you want to! Just inquiring about straws I'm sure you've already grasped...

[A&L+1]

Originally Posted by TurboClaudia

(i called it a migraine, but i'm not sure if that's what it was but it probably was)

Claudia, sounds like a migraine to me - including the proceeding crying episodes, actually. I get them rarely now, but I used to fall apart 4-6 hours before a migraine would start. If there is anything stressful going on, let alone baby-feeding worries, in my experience it becomes overwhelming in the hours leading up to a migraine. I hope that you have the better symptom too - I used to love the post-migraine euphoria brought on by the energy rush of not being in so much f-ing pain.

Thanks for the kind comments on the pictures, all. I really like them too. She is going to come back to do more actually because she wants naked baby shots, more whole family shots, and to test out some different lighting. It's fun to be the guinea pig for someone who is already really good at what she does!

I forget who asked/commented what so…No, Alison does not have blue eyes. If it turns out that Annabel has blue then we have pulled off a pretty nifty trick of genes because we’ve managed to match non-birth parent eye color for both girls - I have blue, Eleanor has hazel, Alison has hazel and Annabel has blue (donor has hazel, btw).

I find the comments on my hair and femininity entertaining. I also find it strange that I have long hair and look so girly. I have not had long hair since very early college times and never highlights. I will sheepishly share the reasons for my long hair – I hate having “matching” hair with Alison and her hair is cut into my typical hairstyle right now, and –this is the one that I am most embarrassed by – I believe that midwives have long hair. Now, I know that’s not true at all, but if I can’t fulfill my calling to midwifery right now at least I can look like one in my own mind. Weird? Yes.

I haven’t shared much about my dad in awhile. We have just found out that the lung cancer has metastasized into his liver, ribs, one lymph node, and his hip bone. They are coming to visit tomorrow (from Detroit) to see the girls before he starts radiation for pain-management only. Not good.

Okay, to end on a light note. I have been so enthralled by my new worm bin that I need to witness to you all – go get a worm bin and save the world from garbage! I love those wriggly suckers and so does Eleanor. She likes to hold a worm which I was not expecting since she says “eeeww, a BUG!” on occasion. I was a total outdoorsy type as a child so it’s surprising to me when Eleanor is not. I really like that she likes the worms.

Good day to all. I hope this isn't an unreadable thread killer post.

[emmalola]

lisa, I'll take the fall for threadkilla! Because I am so envious of your worm bin. I'm so wanting to start a worm bin, but we're still in the part of the year where it randomly freezes/snows with very little warning. But come May 15 (the official no-way-it's-going-to-freeze date), you know we're heading out for worm supplies.

Also- midwives have all different shapes and appearances. You make yourself into the person you need to be. If long hair gives you strength and confidence, then go for it! And I'm so sorry about your dad. It sounds like he's getting good care though- or at least modern care. The radiation should help considerably, with few side effects, if that's any comfort.

TC- migraines suck. I had my first migraine with aura two weeks ago and it still troubles me. I can't believe how horrible they feel. I'm impressed you were able to do what you did with your migraine- I would have collapsed on the bed and left the lentil to his own devices. (Oh, crap! how am I going to do this with two of them???!)

[elsanne]

Oh, wait, is "aura" a migraine term? I was trying to figure out how that fit in there, like "what color is your aura" type thing.

Lisa, good to hear an update on your father. Big hug to you. Big. And yes, you look so PRITTY these days! My midwife has black, Mexican, 80s hair (wavy in layers).
How cool about the worm bin. I want one! Then I will have a place to put all these cans of worms that keep getting opened.

[KKmama]

Originally Posted by emmalola

I'm still on east coast time, so I need to get myself to bed. last little bit- I had another prenatal visit today and the baby is healthy. I've gained almost 18 pounds already, and this is distressing. We had an ultrasound while we were in CT, and learned that the babe is a BOY! woo! and healthy! woo woo!

I thought that I heard/read somewhere that gaining a healthy amount by 20 weeks was good for ensuring that the baby is a good weight at birth and reducing the possibility of early birth? Also, I know for sure that I've read that mamas who gain a decent amount during pg (that at least 25-35 amount) are actually less likely to hold weight post partum (I guess you're not screwing up your metabolism by starving yourself during pg). I dunno. I hate the weight gain during pg (I feel big and awkward), but it feels entirely inevitable and uncontrollable, so it's good to know it's for a good cause.

WOO! on the boy.

Ug on the yeasties, BTW. I totally agree that the western medicine approach to yeast doesn't seem to be that helpful. :

Originally Posted by TurboClaudia

i'm having a hard day, mamas. it is not right that he is not gaining weight well, but i am simply at a loss for what to do.

Originally Posted by TurboClaudia

~c

I'm so sorry this is going on. And yeah, the migraine sounded pretty awful. s to you. I don't know if this is what you want to hear right now, but I keep thinking about how you got M through this successfully, and I'm confident you'll get S through it, too. (But I don't want it to be happening again, and I don't want it to be stressful for you!)

Originally Posted by A&L+1

I forget who asked/commented what so…No, Alison does not have blue eyes. If it turns out that Annabel has blue then we have pulled off a pretty nifty trick of genes because we’ve managed to match non-birth parent eye color for both girls - I have blue, Eleanor has hazel, Alison has hazel and Annabel has blue (donor has hazel, btw).

Originally Posted by A&L+1

I find the comments on my hair and femininity entertaining. I also find it strange that I have long hair and look so girly. I have not had long hair since very early college times and never highlights. I will sheepishly share the reasons for my long hair – I hate having “matching” hair with Alison and her hair is cut into my typical hairstyle right now, and –this is the one that I am most embarrassed by – I believe that midwives have long hair. Now, I know that’s not true at all, but if I can’t fulfill my calling to midwifery right now at least I can look like one in my own mind. Weird? Yes.

I haven’t shared much about my dad in awhile. We have just found out that the lung cancer has metastasized into his liver, ribs, one lymph node, and his hip bone. They are coming to visit tomorrow (from Detroit) to see the girls before he starts radiation for pain-management only. Not good.

Okay, to end on a light note. I have been so enthralled by my new worm bin that I need to witness to you all – go get a worm bin and save the world from garbage! I love those wriggly suckers and so does Eleanor. She likes to hold a worm which I was not expecting since she says “eeeww, a BUG!” on occasion. I was a total outdoorsy type as a child so it’s surprising to me when Eleanor is not. I really like that she likes the worms.

IIRC (and I realize things may have changed in the million years or so since I was in college), the genetics of hazel eyes are the most complicated (along with green), and what you described sounds entirely plausible. However... Annabel's eyes can still change.

I think midwives can have short hair! My mw in CA had short hair. But I've definitely gotten the "hairstyle I think I should have for my stage in life" before.

I'm so sorry about your dad. Enjoy the visit--I'm glad he can travel.

Re worm bins... we had one in Berkeley, and it just wasn't my cup of tea (though I realize good for dealing with compost indoors!). It just needs more "regular" attention than a compost pile... a cp you can neglect and not worry about it dying off. I think part of the problem for me is that we've always needed an outdoor cp, too, because we generate so much yard waste, too... I think this comment reveals the depth of my slothfulness.

Originally Posted by elsanne

Oh, wait, is "aura" a migraine term? I was trying to figure out how that fit in there, like "what color is your aura" type thing.

Yeah, it is. I reread my post from yesterday, and I realize it was a little discombobulated. I don't know quite how to explain... bright light hurts, and objects tend to have halos of light around them. My eyes feel like they are somewhat crossed, and there's ringing in my ears. My come-and-go vertigo was activated. Here's a wiki. The best way I have found to keep a migraine from happening/treat it in the early stages is to have a serious dose of caffeine combined with tylenol. I'm 100% positive that this recent episode was triggered by my raging hormones.

TC, when I get a full-blown migraine, I am usually nauseated (and often throw up). And it's always on one side of my head (always the left). I really hope this was a one-shot deal for you. Sounds like you've never had one before.

[TurboClaudia]

i feel 1000% better this morning after some good sleep (even if it was interrupted several time by nursing babe). omigosh, that was worse than transition labor.

but now i have a squeaky babe whose new pattern is to poop large amounts first thing in the morning while in the saucer while i'm getting breakfast ready for M and me. back later...

~claudia

[jstar]

ugh. migraines are the worst. WORST. i get them most severely in early pregnancy when you can't do much except crawl into a dark room and pray to die. or at least go to sleep. i get the super nausea and light sensitivity.

claudia - i too think you and stefan will get through it because you did with M. i know it probably doesn't give you much reassurance to hear that. and i am sorry it is giving you so much stress because that isn't fair. S is a happy chappy though! despite his mama's worries

i am a mega pregnancy weight gainer. from the day the pee stick comes up yes my body says yes to fat molecules it is wierd to think of myself weighing so much right now but meh. i feel like a house. maternal fat stores. people keep telling me 'oh you're all belly you haven't gained anywhere else' uh....yes i have

i've realized it was much warmer at this time during my isaac pregnancy even though it was exactly the same time of year. i'm out of the mid-pregnancy clothes and yet my end of pregnancy clothes are all really summery. i'm wearing capri pants and flip flops today and i was FREEEEEZING on my way to work brrrr.

lisa - i like your reasons for long hair. i don't think i would want to be 'matchy' either. and i think it probably is reassuring to people to have a 'feminine' midwife. my ob is old with white hair (but old-fit and energetic. he just just ran a marathon with a woman who was 7 mo pregnant no less. i can't *imagine* running a marathon right now). but anyway i think his hair makes me feel he is wise and experienced and has caught a lot of babies

that is cool the photographer is coming back to do more pictures.


ugh. too much to do at work today.

[mamameg]

TC, big, BIG hugs to you, sweetie. I'd call that a migraine, too. Sorry to hear about S's gaining/eating issues. That kind of stuff if quite far from my area of experience, so I won't even try to offer advice. Just lots of hugs and support.

Lisa, LOVE the photos! I am laughing about your hair comments, especially because I was a little surprised to see your hair so long, and your reasons why are hilarious. I can sooooooo identify about not liking to match. If John dresses in the same hue of shirt as me before a party, I change, no question. I am the anti-matcher. But dude... your midwife ideas take the cake. I had to hold back a bellow (Jett's sleeping right on the other side of the wall) when I saw that. Funny thing is... my midwife has mega long hair. Small sample, but I think you might be onto something.

Also Lisa, so sorry to hear your dad's cancer is progressing the way it. Cancer sucks. :

Sarah, good luck with your first day of on call! Wow, you're really doing it! GO Mama GO!

We are in the midst of teenage wasteland over here. Sultan is such a handfull. Think rebellious, hard-headed, hormonal tennager, but with the cognitive maturity level of an 8 yr old. And yes, I am being literal, not sarcastic. That is his reality, due to his brain damage and developmental delays. We are pulling our hair out as it is, but now his mother (who sent him to live here 3 yrs ago because she can't handle him THEN) is getting back in the mix because she thinks John is doing it all wrong. : : : Talk has gone the way of "where do you want to live, here or with your mom?" and I am shamefully finding myself thrilled when he answers "with my mom". : Thing is, the kids just wants to live where ever he thinks there will be no consequences for his actions and behavior. I am at my wits end with it all. Fine, go to your moms!!!!!

Okay, I'm finally finishing this post (been working on it intermittently for about 3 hours) and my mom just came to pick up and take ALL 3 kids for a few hours. AHHHHHHHH.... FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!

[mcsarahb]

More big hugs to Claudia. I'm so glad you're feeling better today. Migraines suck, and auras are scary, for sure. The only thing that helps me is ibuprofen and caffeine in combination.

Lisa, that is frickin' hilarious about the hair. Do I look like a midwife?? One of my classmates has super-short, bleached blonde spiky hair. Another's is short and asymmetrical with bright red streaks. And did you know that Ina Mae cut her hair to shoulder length last year? It's back down to her shoulder blades now.

Meg, hugs to you, too. I am scared of the pre-teen and teenage years, for sure. That is my fear about being a parent, big time. Can't imagine going through it now (plus toddlerhood plus babyhood all at the same time). Yikes.

Jess - I remember that heat wave in April three years ago. May 1st was HOT and we had all the windows open while I was in loud active labor.

So yeah. Went to the hospital this morning. Wow.

Thinking of you all-

Sarah

[jstar]

yep i have pictures of myself on easter in 2004 in a very thin little tank top and skirt. not so this year. i'm ready for some warmth!!

so 'on call'. does this mean you get called to go assist with births? observing another midwife? exciting stuff!

i forgot to write that i'm really sorry about your dad's cancer metastasing, lisa so glad he can come out for a visit.

and i haven't posted a quote. i've been thinking about it and i think i am just not a quoty person lame, i know. there are lots of lyrics i love. just no quotes i can think of.

[mcsarahb]

Originally Posted by jstar

so 'on call'. does this mean you get called to go assist with births? observing another midwife? exciting stuff!

Yeah. I will be catching the babies from now on, with the MW watching. More on the YG.

Lisa, I am so sorry about your dad. It is so hard. I send you strength and centeredness for the road ahead.

Sarah

[jstar]

Originally Posted by mcsarahb

Yeah. I will be catching the babies from now on, with the MW watching. More on the YG.

: that is so exciting!

[nuggetsmom]

Mmm I have an interesting picture of a midwife in my head, and she is older than either of you (or any of us actually). And short hair. We all have our own pictures.

TC I am glad you are feeling better.

I too have a worm bin and we love it too. 10000 pets who just eat garbage. And I am not too engaged in them, but it is time to empty the bin out which will be gross... Maybe tomorrow when both girls will be gone. Or this weekend. Julia also loves the worm bin and will frequently find a plastic glove (yes, I wear them when I am submersing my hands in worm excrement!) and will ask me for a worm. I wonder if you can get little latex gloves for kids
(personally I am sensitive to latex so I wear something else)

I saw some good comfortable looking bikes today at a bike store and though of you Lisa. They were cheaper.

So who rides bikes with 100+ lbs of kid? And how do you do it? KK? There is porbably some other forum where this question gets bandied about and I should check up on it.

[nuggetsmom]

Lisa-0 I completely missed the mention of your dad. That is hard and I am wishing you strenght in this time.

[elsanne]

"bandied about"!!! She said, "bandied about"!!!

I am SO using that soon. Just you watch.

[mcsarahb]

Originally Posted by elsanne

"bandied about"!!! She said, "bandied about"!!!

I am SO using that soon. Just you watch.

up

[KKmama]

Originally Posted by nuggetsmom

So who rides bikes with 100+ lbs of kid? And how do you do it? KK? There is porbably some other forum where this question gets bandied about and I should check up on it.

It's so funny that you ask, because I was just talking about this *last night* with some friends (at our night out!). They were referring to it as "making a train"--hooking up a trail-a-bike to a bike and then hooking a Burley to that. I think that's what I will eventually do (don't quite trust T to ride alongside me yet, plus it'd be nice to get the extra pulling power to drag the trailer o' kids along). I'm not there yet--we don't have a trail-a-bike, and I think L is a little young for the Burley (even going slow and staying on bike paths). They said something about some extra hitch you can buy (for ~$10) to make the whole process simpler. Do you want me to get details and report back?

Look at this image.