Weekly Thread may 7

[pilllowhead]

The benefits of living across the ocean: I can wake up late and still start my first weekly thread, I have accomplished something today!!!

It's a "bank holiday" here (for May 1st) and as always it's raining: on my laundry: I bought some storage boxes and plan to get the baby clothes organised finally but it is so hard to kick the tiredness from my flight. I meant to get up at 7.30 but got up at 11 instead.

Who is doing what exercise right now? I have meant to do a yoga home practice but haven't managed once, will someone make me feel better? Please?

[phathui5]

Exercise- I make it to the gym about twice a week to use the treadmill, the stationary bike and the weight lifting machines. I had the trainer there modify my strength workout last week so that I wasn't using the machines that squished my tummy.

I am trying to figure out how to let my midwife know (now that it's the last trimester and they try to make you come in for tons of visits) that I'm not planning to go every other week and then every week. For my fourth baby, I just don't feel like it's necessary.

[jee'smom]

Exercise... HA! Honestly, I hate exercising!!! BUT, I am very active, walk all of the time (I LOVE to take walks!!!!), never sit down, so that's my exercise. I love to put the kids in the stroller/sling and walk around my community. I have a 1, 1 1/2, and 2 mile walk mapped out that I do, depending on how I feel. It's also the Pocono Mountains, so it's very hilly. (So, I guess I do exercise! )

nic~ I have had ALOT of pressure with this baby for awhile. I go between feeling like I'm going to pop down there (like my water is going to break any minute) and feeling like she's going to fall out of me. When I have a BM, I have to put a wad of toilet paper on my perineum for counterpressure, b/c it feels like I"m going to poop her out!

Well, I went to the store yesterday to get Jee's princess room stuff. I couldn't decide between a whole bunch of stuff (I HATE shopping!!!- Although it was fun in the beginning, after awhile, I was like "Freakin' get me out of here!!!") So, I took it all. I swear. I bought like 3 bedrooms worth of stuff. I'm going to try it all, then return the rest, and have it taken off the credit card before dh sees that it cost $465!!! : He asked me last night how much it cost, I was like "I can't actually tell you b/c I'm taking some stuff back, so I'll let you know when that happens; don't worry about it hon, really... it's not that much..." He mercifully didn't say another word.

Take care guys! Have a great day!

[fw221]

If packing counts as exercise, then that's what I'm doing. Otherwise I'm lucky if I get a good waddle in every day. I could probably get more exercise if I was taking a daily inhaler (I have asthma), but I decided early in my pregnancy that I'd rather not take it if I can live without it.

Can I go back to bed now? I woke up at 5:00 hungry! Zzzzz....

[supermuma]

I have not been as good with exercise as I wish I was..but ah well. I try to walk nearly everyday...even if it is just a few blocks and back. For the most part, I have been pretty consistent with this since I found out I was pregnant.

I was doing yoga each morning at home....and kept it up quite well for a long time...but I have not done it in weeks ...and honestly, I can definately tell the difference...I felt SO much better when i was doing it. Gotta get back to doing that. It was also a big help when labor came with my ds.

I have also been a bit cautious with exercise because of the bleeding episodes and cramping/pressure that I have felt with this pregnancy. Last week when I had the 2nd one I was told to take it easy...so I try not to do too much anyway....which is REALLY annoying for me still.

Other than that I am still highly grumpy. I feel like I have a million things to do (all of a sudden!) and I also am not "allowed" to do all of the preparation I want to do because I have been ordered to "take it easy" --so, I have to wait for dh to do most things with me.....and I HATE that. Grr. I feel so dependent.

Hoping my grumpiness lifts soon.

[Racecar]

I have read about wonky hips (one of mine is higher than the other) contributing to breech positioning and since X-Babe is breech right now (and somehow managing to simultaneously kick/punch on my left, right and down low in my cervix!) I am anxious to call the local preggo chiro. and get some work done on me. The cervix thing is what is really freaking me out. I am so paranoid about prematurity. I wish I could go into really truly take-it-easy mode until my 37th week but of course I have stuff to do for work right up into my 35th (when my ds made his appearance) week. And of course there is house stuff.

I am trying not to obsess over the moving-possibility. It looks pretty strong that we will be going to Chicago very soon after the babe is born. Like a month or two at the latest. The housing market down here is so soft but we bought before things got too outrageously expensive so we are hope hope hoping that our relatively low future-hypothetical listing price will cause somebody to snap up our still needs-love house. It's hard for me not to be on realtor.com all day looking at Chicago condos!

All I really want to do is sleep all day. With my hips splayed out to encourage turning!

[pilllowhead]

Racecar~ you could try breech tilts, though i have no idea how effective they are. Look it up and i will too, something like 10 minutes a day of lying down in the right position may do it

[DoulaClara]

Well, I have done prenatal yoga, maybe five times between trimester 2-3. Maybe this will kick my bottom into doing it again.

I could NOT get sleep last night. The baby had very jumpy hiccups when we went to bed, and after that, with my "Jimmie-legs" (come ON potassium, de-jumpify my legs!) and my dog breathing too loudly, and something that sounded like someone chopping down a tree at 4:00 AM, I only cat-napped. Oddly enough, I don't exactly feel tired. I do feel spacey and really stupid though, so who knows what kind of adventures this will produce. Luckily, I did a ton of food prep yesterday, so this week will really be a matter of pulling stuff out of the fridge and finishing it up. Go me!

Ok, time to get started on things. Especially Mother's Day things. Enjoy the day, ladies!

Clara

[50ftQueenie]

I broke down and started taking the prescription Zantac that the OB gave me. I wasn't going to take it after doing some reading about it around the internet, but when I started asking around it seems as though God and everybody has taken it during pregnancy. Dh told me, "No more internet doctoring for you." So, right now, I'm able to take half of what she prescribed me, and it's helping a lot at night.
In other news, our basement is flooding, which is typical for this time of year, but it's a mess. DH has been doing all the clean-up, since the cat boxes are down there, and there's now cat litter in the water. Yum, I know. The man is a saint.
Since deciding to move our bedroom downstairs where dh's office is now, I have also convinced him that this would be a good time to rip out the carpet in said room and replace it with laminate or wood or something. He's just cute: I nearly had to drag him across Menards by the hair to look at laminate, but once he saw it, he got all excited. Even more excited when he saw the hardwood. So, I may be getting a hardwood floor. We'll see. I'm sure we'll rip up the carpet ourselves, but I need to find someone to lay the wood. I am not going to be the one to screw that up.

For exercise: I'm trying to do yoga, which is really hard with four cats. It totally ruins the whole vibe to have one rubbing on you and crying, then to open your eyes and have all of them sitting there staring at you. I've also been trying to go for little walks, but it's been raining here for a week. I'm hoping to be able to help dh with the mowing of the lawn, since it's going to be about 8 feet high when we finally get to it. Is it safe to mow in your 7th month? I guess I can ask my OB tomorrow.

[Mel L]

Quick update- I wrote all this yesterday, but it was lost. I was too tired to retype it all. The scary part of the nonstop contractions was that I was resting, feet up, and water drinking at the time. Once was on the hotel bed Friday night, and it happened again Saturday night when we got back from dinner. I am really not doing too much, and I am trying to manage my stress levels right now. Dh and I worked out a plan yesterday. He organized the playroom (I started it last week), and I directed him and threw toys in baskets from the floor. I was super stressed ALL day yesterday because of that monsterous train set the in-laws bought him. It seriously takes up ALL the room we have in there. We also have a queen sized bed on the floor of the playroom for me or for my parents when the baby comes. It has been set up since Christmas, and it just made sense to leave it in there. We knew about the bike, and I thought it was a great present. I didn't know about the 5' by 7' train set, and I feel like they are just trying to junk up my house like they have done theirs. They just don't think things through, and they are trying to make up for not being here by buying him the biggest gifts possible. I told dh last night that money can't make up for that, and a few nice trips to the zoo or museum or park would do the job much better! I came up with a new rule that will never be followed, but I think it is good. From now on, no one is allowed to give the kids a gift that will not fit in his or her own home. If that were the case, we would should never get anything bigger than a shoebox from some. At least we now have a plan to organize the rest of the rooms in the house before the baby comes...I hope!

I am kind of getting tired of not doing much, but I have no big choice in the matter. I just want my house finished now! I have been feeling very nesty so I am trying to not act so much on that.

[AmBam]

Morning ladies! I had an appt with my mw on Friday. I love her so much! She's just so calm and relaxed. I talked to her about my fears of having another huge baby with SD again. She made me feel better. Also, I'm only measuring 34 weeks at 32 weeks so I'm not 6 weeks ahead anymore. That does make me feel slightly better! Everything is going great. She's going to have me start Christophers 6 week formula at 34 weeks then we're going to do some other stuff closer to delivery. Hoping to urge baby to come before
42+ weeks. I usually wouldn't even consider anything...but I don't want a repeat of my last delivery. Anywhooo...that's my story.
I have lots and lots of cleaning, laundry and bookwork to do today so I'd better get with it. I also need to mow the lawn if possible, then at about 5 I'm going to my moms to finish her flooring and hanging her cabinets...Hmmmm I'm already tired!

Exersice?? I was at the gym 5 days a week for the first half. Now I havne't done anything...I'm going to be regretting it, I know... I at least need to get out and have a walk with the kids!

[DoulaClara]

Originally Posted by 50ftQueenie

For exercise: I'm trying to do yoga, which is really hard with four cats. It totally ruins the whole vibe to have one rubbing on you and crying, then to open your eyes and have all of them sitting there staring at you. I've also been trying to go for little walks, but it's been raining here for a week. I'm hoping to be able to help dh with the mowing of the lawn, since it's going to be about 8 feet high when we finally get to it. Is it safe to mow in your 7th month? I guess I can ask my OB tomorrow.

laughup My sister has that same issue with her cat. I can't imagine four cats! The cat lives with my mom now, but my sister always brings her yoga gear home when she visits, and the cat thinks the yoga mat belongs to her. She stretches out in the middle the second my sister unrolls it, and swipes at my sister when she moves the cat. Then, while my sister is going through the moves, the cat sits on the edge and bats at her! I'm picturing your kitties staring at you, and it's pretty hilarious!

Clara

[manitobamama]

Hi All,
I hope everyone is having a good start to their week! I only have 5 more Monday's to come to work!!! That sure made my day!

We were busy all weekend clearing out our basement (we have NO storage so the basement has become our dumping ground!) Filled up the dumpster so we have to wait till it's emptied to put more in today I hope! Dh isn't liking my schedule of when things need to be done! Next weekend we have to put in a new window in the basement, which means digging and jackhammering! Well we are down to the wire now, with less than 10 weeks with 5 of those weekends being with all 4 kids and then summer vacation starts at the end of june! I really really want things done for the end of June for the older girls to move their bedrooms downstairs.
50ftQueenie ~ we are also thinking laminate wood for the basement, we did it to our room last spring and it's easy to do yourself!

Great news is that I found a whole box of newborn clothes and blankets, and a lot of them are gender neutral. The only problem is that some of the onsies were handed down to me from my gf and they are all stained from formula feeding. I was thinking of tie dying them! Anyone know of a good product to use?

I almost forgot to share my funny story!
Last night I was cuddling up to dh's back and the baby started going crazy kicking and dh actually kicked me, turned over and moved away!: He just laughed this morning and said he doesn't remember!

[manitobamama]

Originally Posted by DoulaClara

laughup My sister has that same issue with her cat. I can't imagine four cats! The cat lives with my mom now, but my sister always brings her yoga gear home when she visits, and the cat thinks the yoga mat belongs to her. She stretches out in the middle the second my sister unrolls it, and swipes at my sister when she moves the cat. Then, while my sister is going through the moves, the cat sits on the edge and bats at her! I'm picturing your kitties staring at you, and it's pretty hilarious!

Clara

Four cats makes for some interesting laughs! My cats have to be locked away (or maybe it's me who is locked away!) when I do yoga or meditate cuz they drive me insane. When I try and do any streching my cat who loves me the most lies on me and fights with the other cats to stay off of me. Leaving me in the middle of a big cat fight!
Yesterday watching the hockey game our female cat decided my belly was a very comfy place to sleep. She kept giving me the evil glare when babe was kicking her.

[50ftQueenie]

Originally Posted by manitobamama

50ftQueenie ~ we are also thinking laminate wood for the basement, we did it to our room last spring and it's easy to do yourself!

If we did laminate, I think we could do it ourselves. They recommend having a professional lay hardwood though, or manufactured hardwood for that matter. In my (minimal) research, manufactured hardwood has been recommended for more damp environments, which would be my entire house right now.
This is part of the reason we're just doing the bedroom right now. Eventually, we want to get rid of all the carpet in the house. It just grosses me out. We're looking at the bedroom as an experiment to figure out what kind of product we like and who would be the best person to do it.

[Mel L]

Originally Posted by manitobamama

Hi All,
Great news is that I found a whole box of newborn clothes and blankets, and a lot of them are gender neutral. The only problem is that some of the onsies were handed down to me from my gf and they are all stained from formula feeding. I was thinking of tie dying them! Anyone know of a good product to use?

We were in the same boat! Benji and my nephew both had to have formula for 1-3 weeks for medical reasons. We also had a ton of clothes from the triplets who got breast/formula mixes due to supply. I am starting to get all that stuff ready now. The ONLY thing that has worked for us is the dreft spray. You can usually find it in the baby section of stores (our Wal-mart and BRU carry it). I don't know what is in it, but it works miracles on formula and baby biologicals. If the stain doesn't come out the first time (just got a whole mess of stains out on the first wash), it will likely come out the second time. This is the only product I know that seems to get those already set in stains out!

[fw221]

Originally Posted by Mel L

We were in the same boat! Benji and my nephew both had to have formula for 1-3 weeks for medical reasons. We also had a ton of clothes from the triplets who got breast/formula mixes due to supply. I am starting to get all that stuff ready now. The ONLY thing that has worked for us is the dreft spray. You can usually find it in the baby section of stores (our Wal-mart and BRU carry it). I don't know what is in it, but it works miracles on formula and baby biologicals. If the stain doesn't come out the first time (just got a whole mess of stains out on the first wash), it will likely come out the second time. This is the only product I know that seems to get those already set in stains out!

I got a bunch of Lydia's baby clothes at yard sales and a good soak in Oxyclean got some pretty stubborn stains out.

[~Demeter~]

ugh.. I just got off the phone with dh. He wants to go back to school, he's talking of starting classes in the fall semester. That starts this August. I think it's great that he wants to continue his education but dammit we are having a baby! We can barely afford to pay the doctor right now and I really don't see where the hell he is going to find the extra to pay for college classes. I also am quite annoyed with him getting this idea and just leaving me at home to deal with the kids and a new baby by myself. I mean I know I do this anyway but at least in the evenings he would be around to help... if he started classes again that would leave me home A LOT.

I'm sorry to vent but that made me want to cry.. he's looking at things from such an isolated perspective and not the big picture.

[goddessjulia]

talk about don't irritate the preggo... ds slammed his head into my teeth this morning and I completely blew up, and now feel like a total a$$ : it wasn't so much that it hurt like hell, which it did, but that I get flooded with childish feelings of not being respected, wanting to stamp my foot and throw things (which I did and worrying about him hurting the baby, which in fact I know he won't do, I'm just having a typical preggo overreaction. yuck. who was it that said they felt like a 4 y.o.? I'm right there with ya! he told me I was not his friend anymore and he would never play with me ever again (which he tells me at least once a day, whenever I set any kind of limit). then a few minutes later he brought me a pop tart and we made up : I guess that's the good part of being 4!

AmBam, holy moly, mow the grass??!!

exercise? I bought 2 yoga videos which I got in feb or march, I think. one of them I've done a few times, and I do really like it, and my back feels better when I do it, but when I have to clean in order to be able to do it and I have to get up before ds... basically a mountain of excuses to wade through and I just don't get there. the other one I've never even watched. I was just thinking yesterday that with only 8 weeks to go I should at least watch it once!! I had intended to walk regularly as well and that just hasn't happened either.

the craft fair yesterday was pretty fun. I didn't sell hardly anything (anyone need homemade bug spray or facial cleanser?! ) but I saw pretty much all of my closest mom friends and enjoyed some good conversations, all away from my messy house, and kid-free! my back is still hurting but it's a little less bad, even after I stayed up until 1:30 am cleaning (had my first caffeine since october!! oopsie!). I think I'll try the chiropractor this week.

dh got the subfloor replaced in the bathroom yesterday. now he has to figure out how to frame in the new tub and get it in there, then the plumber can come and move the pipes and after that it will be all downhill. I need to go pick out the tile...

regarding floors: we tore out all the carpet in this house before even moving in, at my insistence. I was totally willing to live on subfloors rather than breathe carpet yuckies. I highly, highly recommend wood floors!! we have red oak. now, I'll admit that dh is quite handy and has a good bit of experience with working with wood, but it is also true that installing tongue-and-groove wood flooring is really not too difficult. I live near the carpet capitol of the US, and for some reason that also means all other flooring can be found really cheap here, too. so our gorgeous red oak floors, finished with danish oil (least toxic, not shiny, LOVE IT!), were... lemme think... maybe $800 for 3 bedrooms and an office? something like that. I know it's higher elsewhere, but if you go to a lumber place and not a big box store like home depot you'll get a much better deal. also look for builder's surplus stores in your area. very worth it! dh is going to put tongue-and-groove cypress up on the walls in the bathroom-- that's how easy it is to work with. you do need a few specific tools, like a special hammer and air-driven nail gun, and the right saw, but that's about it.

ok, huuungryyyyy......

[IamPink]

I got my dh tickets to watch wrestling tomorrow night. I bought them back in February. The guy that was supposed to go with him has just backed out so this means that I am going. Not cool. I hate this fake wrestling stuff! I am only agreeing to go if we go to the Olive Garden and I will be away from the kids for a while!
Then this Friday is a concert that I had also gotten him tickets for. We are going to stay in Pittsburgh for the night before we come home. The last time that we stayed all night alone somewhere was in my first trimester (August 2004, I think?) with my dd who turned 2 this March. So, I figure that we are due for a whole night away. And now that I am going with him to the lame thing tomorrow, this means that I will have hours and hours without kids! I am so excited!!

I am thinking of going to see a chiropractor for the first time in my life. I hate to spend the money, but I have heard so many awesome things about them. I want to make sure that my BP doesn't start to creep up on me and I figure that since the baby is breech that it couldn't hurt with that too. I am going to try to remember to do that this week.
That's about all that is going on for me for the week. I still don't have anything in writing about my dad's house, so I don't want to start packing up yet. It would be so nice if I knew for sure so that I don't wait too long to pack up since I am soooo pregnant.

Beautiful, sunny, and in the 70's all week here!