Chat thread for last week of July... or longer?

[JenInMpls]

So we ran a 2-week thread. Have you all opinions? Did you like it better? Was it easier to follow?

Here is a synopsis of the last page:

Sheryl is feeling like she does not have all of the time and energy she needs to get ready for baby with her job, and the back-up plan in place at work is shaky. Her 9yo brother is visiting her, too.

Savannah is 49" around and has a link posted of pictures!!

Caroline's little B just turned 3, :birthday:!

Samantha was kind of grouchy that her dh took off for a number of days and didn't re-install dd's car seat, making it impossible for her to run errands, but is planning a day for herself sans children that involves an air-conditioned chick flick or foreign film.

Sarah's ds is in love with the bus (Go Jack! Public transportation all the way!) and she brought up a GREAT idea for showers - a post baby dinner train - if you missed this idea, go back and look at it!

Anna and Jerome are spending the weekend in EC at the Farm doing clean up work. Anna plans to nap and swim and nap and swim and paint and then nap and swim some more ;) and her baby shower is on Sunday. Jerome has been offered a position teaching Spanish classes at his college which may (or may not) work out well - remains to be seen.

Jen has been waking up at 5:30 every morning and she and Jo can't agree on a girl's name and it's making her nuts.

Christi is going to start getting prepared for Spud. Really! (No freaking out Christi!) She will find out next week if her placenta has moved up, everyone think moving up thoughts!

Poor Ellen has been diagnosed with Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Hope it clears up soon!

Meredith is on a diaper kick but is afraid that her co-workers will shower her with disposables.

[plantmommy]

Jen, you are awesome!

I'm nesting, apparently. I can't think of any other reason why I had to get rid of the hard water spots on the shower doors at all costs, which ended up being repeated applications of straight vinegar and lots of scrubbing IN MY PAJAMAS.

I'm also waking up at 5:30 every morning, but am making great efforts to stay in bed until 6 at least, and occasionally go back to sleep. It seems this boy will be like Cullen was; he was up at the crack of dawn every morning. I'm woken to kicks and hiccups!

I'm also checking periodically to see if my belly button has pooped out yet! It never did with my other pregnancies, but it certainly looks like it will this time. It's stretched as flat as it can go without popping out!

[chrissy]

Happy Monday mamas! Just a quick note from me to subscribe to the thread. Noah and I are heading to the Children's Museum this rainy morning.

Will write more when he naps this afternoon.
Love,
C

[sistermama]

We all must have had busy weekends, I think that is the least posts ever!! I got to see my dad yesterday!!! He has been in Iraq for 4 months, so I'm very glad he is home. He brought Jack home an outfit from Istanbul, so check out my pics on Yahoo, cause he looks adorable!!!

Jack's bday is on Wednesday, I can't believe my baby is going to be TWO!!

[JenInMpls]

I too posted some photos on the yahoo page yesterday - finally took pictures of the baby things I have knitted - sweater, elf hat and hat-n-booties.

Today is our first real organized baby shower at Jo's work. Of course the one up at camp was a baby shower too but it was also a staff party at the same time. This one will involve games, finger food and lots of pastels.

Does anyone else's belly sting? I have a patch about 5 inches below my sternum that just feels raw to the touch, but it's not, it doesn't look any different than any other skin on my body. No stretch marks or anything, either. It doesn't itch, just stings, and nothing makes it feel better. :scratch

Well, if I have to leave in an hour, I had better get on with my morning. Sarah, glad that your dad is home and Chrissy, hope the museum was fun...

j

[plantmommy]

belly stingin' sistah! Actually, on me it was the lower belly, below the navel. It lasted a few days and went away, and I figured it was stretching skin combined with ill-fitting clothes.

[MamaAcorn]

Thanks for the recap Jen! You're on top of things!

We finished painting the new place over the weekend. Boy, am I glad that's done and over with. Dh was getting hard to motivate there at the end. I also got the armoire put back together again and should be able to start filling it with all the baby's things this week. I can't wait!

My Bradley classes are going well. Dh was present while I was teaching last night (ds blessed us by taking a nap), and gave some really great input to the dads of my class and then kept telling me the rest of the night what a great teacher I was! :D

That's about all that's going on here.

Pam

[msrog]

Mine stings too! But it's where I can see my old silver stretch marks stretching further. The "new" areas are pink and shiny. OUCH...

I just got home from my last official day at work, woo hoo! :carrot
I'll still go in occasionally when they need something, then to train the new person... But -- aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I'm off to the bead store to re-buy Anna's, get one for the other gal (forgot her name at the moment; I don't think I ever knew her), and I think Danielle also didn't get one from me??? Anyway, I'll touch base again later.

Hey, any of you Sept. mamas who just decided on cloth diapering: What did you end up buying as your first stash?? Now that I've read up on it a bit more, your responses will actually make some sense to me...

[MamaAcorn]

My diaper stash is pretty boring. I went with the kissaluvs newborn package from naturalbabies.com, so that's 24 kissaluvs 0. Then, I ordered 2 dozen infant ubcpf just to be safe and a few WAHM (SOS, BBH, and FMBG) fitted dipes for fun. I also have a Bumpkin AIO, 3 Wonderoos, and 1 sm FB. I have various types of newborn (6-7) and small (8-9) size covers, including my pride & joy small KP that I got a couple weeks ago. I have 3 dozen wipes, 2 snappis, and a wetbag. I'm feeling another order coming on, so any suggestions on what to get?

Pam

[Robertsgirl]

Hello Mamas,

We had a nice quiet weekend catching up since all of our company had left. We got the sleep part down, but didn't catch up on much else, LOL! We did pick up our first piece of baby furniture. We hadn't planned on buying new baby furniture because we just hate the establishement feel of it, but we caved to advertising pressure and bought a whole set. Can you say SUCKERS? Anyway, we picked up the first piece, dresser and it is leaching formaldehyde so bad I could hardly be in the truck with it (we have a Yukon XL). Anyway, we've now vowed we will never buy mainstream pressed board furniture again. Wish we could cancel our other stuff, but its a little late now. At least we have some time before Spud will be exposed to this stuff, and we plan on cosleeping for a long while anyway.......why did we buy a crib again?:scratch

Anyway, we also ordered some of our diaper stash this weekend. YIPPEE!! :bgbounce I had previously ordered a size 0 Kissaluvs, 2 XS Fuzzi Bunzs, 1 Sm Happy Hempy and two covers. We just wanted to see some dipes to get a feel for what to order. This weekend we ordered a package off of Jacksmagicbeanstalk.com with 1dz UBCPF preemie, and a whole assortment of covers and AIO's. We also added another dz UBCPF in infant, 2 snappis. I also got to order my wool nursing pads, YEA! So excited. Oh and on a completely unrelated sidenote, I got to order some more of my natural deodorant...the ONLY ONE I've found that works at all for me!!!!:carrot

I have the stinging itch thing too. Mine is way up high and I just assumed it had to do with my gall bladder problems I've had, but since you girls are having it in other places, maybe it isn't. Mine's been going on for several weeks now. Robert rubs lotion on my belly at night and that seems to soothe it a little bit.

Anyone else enjoying the thrills of hemmoroids?? Just wondering. Its such a joy!

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I'm off to do laundry since it got skipped last week with our company here. Robert nicely pointed out to me yesterday that today was his last clean pair of boxers, oops! :hang

[mum2tori]

We totally lazed around this weekend. David was exhausted from his little fun motorcycle trip with his cousin. He got a nail in his rear tire so he had to replace it, nice little sudden expense we hadn't planned on right now. :( David was also totally glued to the TV watching the Tour. I don't know what he's going to do now (he doesn't either he's been waiting for this since the LAST Tour. :LOL) I slept in yesterday morning so I missed seeing the final stage. We ended up watching it at 11pm last night. :shake :shake Should have gone to bed but it was fun to watch it until 1:30am :yikes: and David got all excited telling me what was happening. He's so cute when he really gets into stuff. :) He got up with the kids this morning and I slept in again. He's currently taking a nap. :LOL He was back on his trainer this morning (its been raining off and on for the last 2 days), he's got to keep training if he's going to participate in the Ride for the Roses in Oct.

Okay OT rant: Anyone who watched the Tour, here's something that really bothered me. Lance and his wife Kristin are now divorced. They have 3 children, a boy 5 and twin girls 3. She DIDN'T go to France, so his children WEREN'T there when he broke the record and won 6 Tours (and he's the only one to win 6 in a ROW!). You could see he was a little upset standing on the podium (without his children) when the third place winner was standing there with his child. He kept staring at the child. He's said he probably won't race in the tour next year because it takes too much time away from his kids. I'm sorry I don't care if you don't like your ex-husband, it is your responsiblity to make sure his children are there when something important happens. It certainly isn't like money was a problem for them to be there. You think he wouldn't have paid anything to have them there. This will be in the history books and what are his kids going to say one day "mom why weren't we there?" She's going to have to admit "because I couldn't be a bigger person and make sure you were there." He totally changed how he trained for this Tour because she wouldn't leave Texas with the kids and he trains in France (for obvious reasons) so he could even see them. I just don't understand using your children as a weapon to hurt the other person. :shake :shake Anyways...

The skin around my bellybutton HURTS!! It is so sensitive, just brushing against the counter makes my breathe catch sometimes. It's amazing the plethora of warrior marks I'm getting across my belly. Radish is definitely hanging out much higher that Jack did. I didn't get many marks with Tori (she rode really HIGH) until she decided to drop in the last 2 weeks. Jack was my total LOW rider, and I got tons of marks from him. Now Radish is making the ones from Jack cruise up my belly passed my bellybutton. I've got at least 10 that go passed my bellybutton. They are nice and bright red. :rolleyes

Jen- that sweater is AWESOME!!! I wish I could knit, I think I need to take a class. I read the books and I'm so confused when I'm done. :LOL

Sarah- Jack is so cute in his little outfit. Isn't it scary how fast they grow. He's such a cutie.

Savannah- Yeeeeeeah!! :carrot :carrot so glad to hear work is "done". Now try to relax. :LOL Yeah right. ;)

Christi- try Tucks pads or use some witchhazel on a pad. It really helps. Great for PP too. :) I've been lucky to not get any this pregnancy. Of course I probably just cursed myself. :LOL

Pam- glad to hear your classes are going so well. :)

I'm helping to organize and host a cloth diapering party here in Houston of MDC moms. It should be lots of fun. Just need to get the house in order a little bit. ;)

Newborn stash wise I have mainly fitteds. I used prefolds for Jack and just didn't "love" it. :LOL I'm a fitted girl. :) So I got mainly fitteds for this time around. I have BizzyBHives, IvyRoses (with are now Mudpuddles), MudpieBabies, BunnyHugs and a few of this and that. :) I really prefer side-aplix because of how quick they are to put on and how versatile the fitting is. I don't like to use contours because they always seem to leak onto the covers with BF poops. Here's most of our Newborn Stash (http://www.noale.net/sam/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album12) I still have a few things that I've recently gotten that I need to take pictures of and upload. But that's the base stash. :) I also have a dozen of UBCPFs for back ups. :) We have a couple of AIOs but not a lot. They just wet so much and so fast when they are so tiny. :)

[JenInMpls]

...24 kissaluvs 0. Then, I ordered 2 dozen infant ubcpf just to be safe and a few WAHM (SOS, BBH, and FMBG) fitted dipes for fun. I also have a Bumpkin AIO, 3 Wonderoos, and 1 sm FB. I have various types of newborn (6-7) and small (8-9) size covers, including my pride & joy small KP that I got a couple weeks ago. I have 3 dozen wipes, 2 snappis, and a wetbag.

I'm not teasing you, Pam, but couldn't you all just hear this coming over a radio like a secret code? "MamaAcorn, this is Sistermama, just a quick 10-4 on those WAHM AIOs, I'm now 10-76 to pick up the ubcpf..."

btw, did you know that 10-54 is the code for "livestock on roadway"?

Christi I had HORRIBLE hemorrhoids in my first trimester, and I tried witch hazel pads, witch hazel sitz baths, eating more fiber... the only thing that made mine go away was homeopathic Hamamelis virginiana 30c. And sorry to hear about your sensitivity to your new furniture, that's a bummer. You could let it sit outside and off-gas as long as possible before you bring it in the house...

Well, here's Jen before the shower: :)
Here's Jen after the shower: :yikes:

People like giving gifts to babies more than giving wedding gifts, it seems! We got so much stuff, I'm blown away. baby monitor, stroller, books, blankets, clothes, etc, etc... we did the baby picture game, the baby food in unmarked jars game, and the worst of all, the melted chocolate in the diapers game... and the diapers were 10 of our cloth newborn contours. I just HOPE that whoever had this grand idea is able to get the chocolate out!

it's just another manic Monday... (whoa-ooh-oh)

j

[hjohnson]

Well the gal who promised me her diaper stash I don't think is going to come through on her promise. I need to order stuff now. So far I have 4 small Bummis snap wraps, 2 small cosmic baby wraps from Bummis, 3 newborn covers (gerber and dappis), 3 wahm made newborn AIOs, 1 infant prefold, and 1 small Mollytog AIO. I need about 24 UBCPFs and I want 7 small Happy Heinys. Hopefully I will have more people order off of my wishlist before I have to buy stuff. I am getting down to the wire though. My hips ache, my ligaments are pissed, and my sacrum is definitely out of whack. I can't wait to see my Chiropractor and massage therapist on Wed. Now to find a babysitter.

[SiValleySteph]

This is my diaper stash:

Dipes:
1 Loveybums newborn fitted (birth to 12lbs)
18 Nanipoos newborn fitteds (6 to 12lbs)
15 medium Tiny Tots fitteds (6 to 15lbs)
12 Loveybums medium fitteds (9 to 22lbs)

9 infant CPF - hand dyed from Sunflower Derrieres
9 premium CPF - hand dyed from Sunflower Derrieres

Pockets & Stuffers:
3 small Fuzzibunz (green, red, blue)
3 Wonderoos (yellow, white, blue) (one size)
6 small MOE microterry inserts
3 microfiber inserts

Covers:
2 newborn proraps (6 to 10lbs)
4 small Bummis Super Whisper Wraps (8.5 to 15lbs)
3 Loveybums medium covers - 2 fleece, 1 PUL (9 to 22lbs)

Misc:
42 Lucy's Hope Chest sherpa/velour wipes
Happy Tushies accessory kit - wet bag, changing pad, 6 wipes, squirt bottle for wipe solution
6 Loveybums microfleece topped doublers (sm-med)

Still need!
Pail liners.
Ingredients for wipes solution.
Baby. :LOL

I'm thinking of adding a couple more newborn covers, just in case. I'm at the point (well, I hope to be assumming my Loveybums order finally arrives today!) where I'm ready to start washing so everything is ready to go. But I'm not sure how to go about this? Just a hot wash and dry for everything? Do the fuzzi bunz & wonderoos need to go in the dryer to "seal the PUL?" What about the covers? How could I not know this from all the time I've spent reading the diapering forum??? :p

[JenInMpls]

Heather I hear you, a mom at school promised me a very large stash with a number of wool covers but she has not come through. Perhaps I need to actually have the baby in arm before she will give them up to me despite the fact that her youngest son is 5! :shrug oh... and the chiropractor... I get to go tomorrow. Yay. *happydance*

Steph in CA, I laughed out loud at what you still need for your stash - yeah, a baby might make it all more worthwhile, eh? hee hee! But it's so cute and clean right now!!!

j

[msrog]

Wow, those are impressive stashes! Hey, today was a neat MDC day: I made my first ever Trading Post CD purchase, and I found an MDC mama that lives right here in my small town! Yippee. :rocks

I need waaaaay more covers... Wow, I'm impressed at you mamas getting so much done with the baby rooms! We did a little over the weekend, too, but it was just getting the swing and pack and play down from the attic.

[chrissy]

OOOOOOOOOH, I am loving all this diaper talk. It's making me want to buy more and I really don't think I need more. :shrug I need to catolog what I've got and see if there are any holes. The only thing I'm kind of concerned about is not having enough tiny covers. Noah was 10 pounds 6 ounces so wouldn't have fit in newborn for long. I did go ahead and buy some preemie prefolds and a bunch of kissaluvs 0's and some other tiny fitteds, but I can't seem to bring myself to buy itty bitty newborn covers. I really only like to use wool, sometimes fleece, and even the tiny ones seem so expensive. Hhhhhhhmmmmm...

Savannah, some things to think about. Do you think you will like prefolds or do you think you will be more of a fitted kind of girl? Also, budget is a consideration there since prefolds are sooooooooooooo much cheaper. Another consideration with having twins is, do you expect they will be on the small side? If I were new to cloth diapering and I was having twins and I was on a somewhat limited budget, I *think* I would buy 3 dozen preemie prefolds, 4 snappis, 8 newborn proraps (unless you are thinking the babies will be really tiny, then I'd go with preemie proraps). And I'd scour the TP and ebay for some good deals on used fitteds and maybe some wool and fleece to try. If I could afford it I'd add in a dozen Kissaluvs size 0's. If I had no budget to worry about, I'd buy 36 Kissaluvs size 0's, a dozen preemie prefolds, 2 snappis, some newborn proraps, some wool newborn covers and maybe some fleece newborn covers too. Heck, if the sky was the limit, I'd also buy whatever cute newborn diapers I could find from Bizzy B Hive, El Bee, Firefly, and whatever else caught my eye. :innocent Sorry for the novel.

WARNING: Really sweet story ahead... Today at the museum, I was sitting down watching Noah play and I put my hand on top of my belly and I could feel the baby's heart beating!! It was the coolest thing. S/he must've been sleeping curled up with her back right under my hand. It was definitely too fast for hiccups and it continued for at least a minute until she must've shifted position. It was so cool!! :love

I've got the sore belly you guys are talking about too. Or actually I've had it. The stretching, tearing feeling I get around my belly button from time to time., though I don't have it now. The sore spot some of you were talking about last week, from where the baby likes to push I get a lot, especially at night. The baby must like to lodge up there and push back or something.

Boys are back so better go,

[sistermama]

Holy diapers, mamas!! I'm jealous!! All I ever bought for Jack were 2 dozen small prefolds, 3 newborn bummi covers, 2 small Artistocrat wool covers, 5 small bummi covers, 2 dozen premium prefolds (which I didn't ever really use - they are HUGE compared to the small prefolds!!), 6 bummi medium covers and 2 large imse vimse wool covers. I'm just going to reuse most of that this time. I wouldn't mind getting a little wool cover, does anyone know of any good ones that are smaller than the Aristocrat smalls?

I'm so excited, because Jack was in underwear all day today!!! He only had one accident, and that was while he was standing at the toilet trying to get his underwear down. We even left the house for two hours. Plus, while I was on the phone he went and used the potty completely by himself without my knowing it! When I walked in the bathroom, he was trying to get his underwear back on.

Samantha - I'm totally with you about his kids not being there. I felt really bad for him, and sad for his kids too.

[CdnAloha]

mum2tori, I was wondering the same thing about LA's kids and feeling bad that they were not in Paris to experience the historical win...BUT...my dh says he read somewhere that they were in France for much of the tour and were likely in Paris. I assume they were staying away from the media - if that's possible with all the hundreds of them there. Anyway, I want to believe he shared the experience with them somehow. From what I could tell of Kristen Armstrong throughout their marriage and divorce she was VERY supportive of him and put the kids above all else, so I can't see her changing all of a sudden. (I followed their marriage cause I read his book and it seemed like a really special relationship. Normally I don't get caught up in celebrity worship, but I was saddened by their experience. Don't you think we just know too much about celebrity's personal lives?! I never want that kind of fame.)

OK, back to babies and diapers and such. I have 2 dozen small UBCPF and 13 growing greens one-size hemp fitted diapers. I have 3 snappies and 4 diaper pins but no covers yet. I am leaning toward two aristocrat covers and 4 bummis. A friend is knitting me some nice wool ones too. I'm tempted by the sugar peas wool covers, but I'm not sure cause I've heard great things about Aristocrats. I love the look of some of the designs that WAHMs have for covers and even dyed fitteds, but I can't justify the expense. I may dye some of my prefolds, but I may wait till they are used to do it.

Overall I am feeling reasonably ready, in the sense that if the baby came tomorrow we would manage for a couple of days. (The diaper shop wahm delivers personally if needed, so I could get the last minute stuff.) I don't want to the baby to come tomorrow, but just think it could be only 5 more weeks!

Cheers,
Julia

[sistermama]

Julia - I love my Aristocrats covers. They're not cheap, but they are really worth it - I haven't find any nicer. I used the same ones on Jack for about 6-7 months, and they still look new.

[hjohnson]

I have an Aristocrat cover for Christopher and I love it because it is so soft. I knit and would love to get a pattern to make my own wool soakers. I just don't have much time though.

BTW Jen I have to say I love the sweater, hats, and booties you knitted for you baby. They are cute!

[3boobykins]

Wow, those are some impressive diaper stashes, mamas! We just do prefolds--all those tiny fitteds are so sweet, but just not in our budget. I also love saving money on cloth diapering, as much as possible, but I'm glad lots of us are supporting wahm moms who make their own dipes. And sorry to those who haven't received promised stashes--maybe they'll come through later. I just ordered our newborn dipes this weekend--had to start over, since we the only smallish dipes we had were a bunch of very tattered infant sized we bought second hand for dd. We're starting with 3 dozen newborn sized prefolds from greenmountaindiapers.com--they're a little smaller than infant, not quite as small as preemie, and thinner--2x5x2, so they'll last a bit longer than preemie and leave more room for pins or a snappi. I've recently gotten really good at pinning and ordered more dritz pins. I love the way dd looks in a pinned prefold without a cover--so classic. I also ordered 2.5 dozen unbleached infant pf's for when the newborns are outgrown, and 6 tiny pull-on nylon covers, my favorite. I've also got a couple of nb proraps we're borrowing, and a bummis original nb cover I found at a resale store. I just need to get some microfleece now to cut out liners, and we'll be pretty set. Other than that, we've got plenty of covers that dd has outgrown, mostly nylon pull-ons. I'm thinking of dying some of our prefolds just for fun and variety, if I can find the time.

I'm sorry some of you are having stinging bellies-I can't remember ever having had that before. My complaint lately is my lack of appetite. I still feel hungry, but often can't think of anything that sounds good to eat, and my heartburn is getting worse despite the Zantac--running out of room, I guess.

I was realizing yesterday that some of you must be going on 35 weeks (I'll be 32 on Friday). Wow! I had dd at 36, so that just blows me away. I'm really hoping to hang in until at least 37 this time, but I'm doing my best to be totally ready by around 35 so I can rest as much as possible, just in case. I've been working on shampooing our carpets. I've been using vinegar, baking soda, and a little Simple Green and Biokleen laundry soap in our machine, and it's working really well. Our carpets were BAD though. Ideally, I want a house with no wall-to-wall!

Jen--What's the chocolate in the diaper game? Baby shower games are just weird, aren't they? Maybe it'll come out with some Bac-out. Otherwise, maybe lay them out in the sun for a day or two after washing?

I'd better go get my day started. I'm going to get my sewing machine back from a friend today and work on a new sling for the baby. I bought some cooler-weight fabric yesterday--it stays pretty hot into October here.

Take care, everyone! :love
Heather

[JenInMpls]

Jen--What's the chocolate in the diaper game? Baby shower games are just weird, aren't they? Maybe it'll come out with some Bac-out.

The chocolate-in-the-diaper-game:

1. Melt a chocolate bar (or a portion of one). Kinds used at our shower were: heath, hershey's with almonds, mounds, almond joy, reese's peanut butter cup, nut goodie, etc, etc...

2. Smear it into diaper so it looks like a poo.

3. Number the diapers and pass them around and make all of the grown-ups at the party inspect them, smell them and identify the chocolate bar.

We gave them 10 of our nb contours for this game because the hosts were going to use disposables and were not willing to go out and drop big bucks on any of the unscented co-op brands (Seventh Generation, for example). The perfume in pampers/luvs/huggies/etc gives Jo asthma attacks. Last night she did two washes with bac-out and biokleen and even with their oxygen bleach and there are still some stains remaining. She says she has a few more tricks up her sleeve and will keep working on them. I suppose we really needn't worry since (a) we have 3 dozen of them (b) they're only going to fit for a very short time and (c) they are diapers, after all, and a little stain on the inside isn't going to turn anyone's world upside down...

cd gurus who have used Snappis: Do you really need to wrestle with them to get them to hold pf's shut or is it just that the material on our little contours is so tightly woven? We got a couple of packs of Snappis as a shower gift yesterday and had a hard time getting them to hang onto the material. Maybe I should just invest in some diaper pins.

I ought to jump in the shower so I get to my chiro appt on time.

:D jen

[sistermama]

Jen - all I can say for the diapers is sun, sun, sun!!! For some reason, this seems to work only when you put the diapers out wet, so if they dry and the stain is still there wet them and put them out again.

[Tree Swallow]

Oh ick, I just love the thought of seeing a room full of women sniffing diapers filled with black goo! LOL! Nobody has offered to throw me a shower :( boo hoo, though I need it more with this baby than any previous. All my friends quit having their babies a while ago (like I thought I did!) and I've received no hand-me-downs. I got rid of everything I had with the others, except a Pack 'n Play. Not sure why I kept it; I guess I thought it might come in handy for a visiting baby. Probably I just was too lazy to figure out who to give it to or sell it.

But, I'm still coping with the last stages of the lovely Hand Foot and Mouth. I've been brushing my teeth with the kids' bubble gum toothpaste. Anything remotely spicy or salty is too still too much for my mouth, but I basically can eat again. No more living off Cream of Wheat!

Our home entertainment lately has been Feel the Foot. Little Boy will just jab the heck out of me. I announce it, and every comes running over to Feel the Foot.

I am once again experiencing the joys of hemmerhoids, for whomever asked. They sort of backed off there for a couple weeks, but I had to get out the Tucks last night I was so miserable.

I am growing out of all my pants. I was hoping to get through this without buying any more maternity clothes, since I already think I bought too many as it is, but I might have to pick up another pair of pants at some point. I've still got 8 weeks to go.

Savannah I enjoyed your photos. Your belly is so ... pointy! :)

[banana girl]

Hey ladies

No time to post now, just thought I would drop in and say hi! we had alovely busy crazy fun weekend and I'm looking forward to telling you about it, however, the marine is cracking the whip today.... he always does that when I've been gone for a day! Seems to think there is sooooo much to do!!!! (there isn't)

Gotta go

[plantmommy]

Ellen, you've got company! With my first, the day of my shower had this massive snow-storm (in April!!!) and the whole thing got canceled. So, I've never had a shower at all. boohoo!

I've also outgrown all my maternity clothes, and had to get a new pair of pants. Actually, the shorts I got from Land's End still fit, even though they're M, as they size their stuff larger. When I first got those things, I thought they'd always be too big for me! Little did I know this would be the only pregnancy in which I ever outgrew size M maternity wear! And I haven't gained any more than previously, either; it's all baby. So, I'm needing to wear size L, and they're too big everywhere but the belly.

[MamaAcorn]

I'm also outgrowing all of my maternity clothes. I should have known this would happen since it did last time around too. Grrr. I hate this part b/c I refuse to spend more money on maternity clothes that I can wear for 6-8 weeks around the house (I work from home). I'd much rather spend the money on more diapers or other stuff for the baby or ds. I have one pair of shorts, a skirt, a dress, and maybe a single pair of pants that fit. Most of my shirts are also too short and show off my belly, as if ds doesn't do a good enough job at showing it off already. Whenever anyone asks him about the baby or being a big brother, he runs over to me, lift up my shirt so my big pregnant belly can be seen, and introduces baby Jackson. Really, it's kinda sweet, but not everyone is ready to see my preggo belly.

Pam

[Caroline248]

, lift up my shirt so my big pregnant belly can be seen, and introduces baby Jackson. Really, it's kinda sweet, but not everyone is ready to see my preggo belly.

Pam



Mine does that too...lifts up my shirt and says that "Here is baby Jackson Henry".....

Caroline

[msrog]

How cute is that that both of you have little ones lifting up your shirt so the whole world to see your belly, and both are introducing little Jacksons??? Doo doo doo doo... twilight zone music...

I cannot believe that I'm outgrowing my size L maternity! EEEEKKK! And it is really hard lately to find shirts that cover the belly or panel completely. (Thank you, Jen!!! Yours is perfect!)

Oh, I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE ORDERED MY VERY FIRST CLOTH DIAPER STASH!!! Yesterday was my first time at the Trading Post on MDC. Wow, I'm impressed! Ebay has nothin' on us... :) I should be done, except for diaper pail and tote bag, but so far here's what I got (all for under $130, and keep in mind I had to buy DOUBLE the usual amount!) :

3 dozen infant prefolds; 6 Snappis; 20 various small and newborn size fitted diapers in lots of fun prints; 17 (possibly 23!! overkill?? hee hee) various covers and wraps in small and newborn; 1 small AIO; 2 small pocket PUL dipes; brand new diaper bag; and lots of liners, doublers, washcloths, etc. WOW! Fluffy mail on its way!!! Surely with the wide range of goodies, we'll find what works and can be more specific at the next size up. Hey, check out the biggest portion of my booty: http://community.webshots.com/user/ekortering

Hey, would someone remind me who I'm supposed to mail the extra, special bead to, for the former Sept. mama?? And what was her name??

Thanks,

[fourlittlebirds]

My daughter is going to be three years old tomorrow! Today we're going out shopping for her birthday stuff (which will include a Winnie-the-Pooh cake and pink decorations) and look for a stuffed animal for my 5-year-old, the result of a bribe to get him into his own bed. I need SPACE! We're all still sleeping in the same room, but now I can stretch out as I like. Relief!

Here's a picture of Willow and me last week:
http://home.earthlink.net/~eaglefalconlark/photos/people/LindaandWillow7-4_2.jpg

I'm feeling very good physically, but I've been grumpy because of the heat. The baby doesn't seem to mind though. Lots of somersaulting! I love this phase, I love alerting people to the fact that the baby is trying to jump out of my belly and watch their eyes get big when they actually see it. :LOL This weekend I will have lots of people to show off to too, as we have a family reunion and these people are very family-oriented. I think I will be the only pregnant one too. Fun!

[banana girl]

Well I survived the weekend...

Boy was it busy!! The party for my sister was fun, but kinda lame too... lots of drunken white trash couples hanging out in the horse pasture drinking beer. The people i wanted to hang out with didn't come till pretty late in the evening and I was really tired (even though I napped) I must admit, burning nasty old mattresses was pretty fun, but I did have to keep my distance and as the sober pregnant chick, got to stop people from doing really dumb stuff... like riding on sleds, being pulled behind a car. yeah. really. Sometimes the people my sister considers her friends,.. amaze me.
For instance, my dad is gone out of town on a camping trip. He's at this big retreat for gay men. He has gone every year for the last 4 years and it's been very influential in bringing him out of the closet and connecting him with the local gay community. All of MY friends know my dad is gay. During the party one of my friends asked where dad was, and my sister totally shushed us from talking too loudly about dad. She didn't want her friends to overhear us....It pissed me off. What kind of friends are these, if she has to lie about dad? If a friend of mine can't accept that my father is gay, then they aren't someone I need to be friends with! I guess I just expect more from the people I consider friends! anyway.. enough ranting!

The baby shower was fun, but sort of overwhelming. Hard to describe how it felt to be the center of attention when I feel so..... weird. You know, big and tired and emotional..There ended up being more people than I expected. About 30 of us in my mother-in-law's immaculate house. I found myself worried about the kids running around. People were eating on the sofa in the "fancy livingroom" and didn't take their shoes off in the house... Sheila (MIL) stayed very cool about it all, but... I know how she likes her home to be treated. Oh well, she offered to throw the party, i guess I should let it go.

and then there's the gifts.... almost everyone went to Target! and... we got stuff with Disney characters on it!! But, really I am grateful for the generosity of all these wonderful people who love us and want to help us out. I am grateful, just dissapointed they didn't check out my awesome online registry! That's where all the really cool stuff was!!! However, we got a lot of money... almost 500 dollars!!!!!! Holy shit! huh. People who couldn't make it, sent checks! So, I guess i get to go shopping now! That will be fun. I can finally beef up my diaper stash. I haven't spent a penny on the baby for over a month.. been waiting to see what the shower brought us. Now, I can go CRAZY!!!!!

Have been extremely uncomfortable all day today, nauseated and achey. I feel like i've eaten way too mush... everywhere! You know that achey too full feeling... it's in my back and my hips and my throat. And i'm pretty sure "the bundle" has been pressing on my rib cage all day long, i feel bruised. I just want to go home and sleep.... You know what, i think I will!

Good night everyone! love to all.

[Robertsgirl]

Growing out of maternity clothes...yup yup yup....since I am a housewife, I REFUSE to buy any more. I finally called my Mom and asked her in my best pathetic voice to make me some big jumpers. She went nuts having something to do to help and I now have 5 HUGE MUMUS that are the most comfortable things I've ever worn. I have one skirt that fits that I can wear to church and one pair of capris I can squeeze into if I have to, although I hate going out at all in this heat anymore. I've only gained 28 lbs so far but my L maternity clothes don't fit.....go figure?

PS I keep forgetting to post my weeks in the title, I love seeing where everyone is as we read.

[chrissy]

I am definitely growing out of my clothes too. Mostly the shirts so far- they are all getting too short and show my belly. What do do, what to do!

Christi, when is your u/s to check on your placenta?

I cannot believe that some of you guys are so close to delivering!!!! ACK!

[Robertsgirl]

Ultrasound is Thurs at 3pm Pacific. Our midwife, Lori, is going with us and making the tech SHOW her the placenta so we have completely accurate info! I LOVE my MW! I'll post as soon as we get back!!!!!!!

[chrissy]

I will be thinking of you on Thursday Christi. THat is great that your m/w is going to the appointment.

Forgot to say earlier, Happy Birthday to Willow!!! And I love the picture LInda!

Bathtime with boy,

[Caroline248]

[QUOTE=msrog]
Oh, I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE ORDERED MY VERY FIRST CLOTH DIAPER STASH!!! Yesterday was my first time at the Trading Post on MDC. Wow, I'm impressed! Ebay has nothin' on us... :) I should be done, except for diaper pail and tote bag, but so far here's what I got (all for under $130, and keep in mind I had to buy DOUBLE the usual amount!) :

[QUOTE]


Savannah..I have an extra tote bag lying around, it is a purple medium sized one, i can't remember the brand. It is yours if you want it...I hardly used it..I bought it from Pumpkin Butt....

Caroline

[4under6]

EEEEEK!
I am so bad at responding to everyone here!
Just catching up on all the posts, and wishing everyone well.

I stopped working at the restaurant last weekend, so that was kind of a relief, though the money situation is not good.
But, I started cranking out my eBay stuff, and have some good auctions going, so it's all good.

Baby is constantly wedged under my ribs, and it's so uncomfortable!
I hate the feeling of not being able to breathe properly.

DH and I had a discussion about the baby's due date, and decided we wern't going to let the due date of 9/1 stress us out (SO much going on with us the last week of August/first week of Sept.). We are gonna go with the flow.
I know my doc will be interested in inducing me since my last was so fast, but I will politely decline.

Glad to see everyone's dipe stashes up in full force.

Here's what I have.

Newborn FITTEDS:

2 Kindhearted Women
5 Toot Sweet
4 Fireflies
1 Sellin' Threads
2 Lucy's Hope Chest
1 El Bee
2 Sugar Plum Babies
3 Tykies
3 Itty Bitty Buns
3 Nanipoos
3 First Class Baby
3 Little Caboose
3 Full Moon Baby Gear
1 Kissaluv
1 Poochies

NB AIO's:
1 Sugar Pie Babies
2 Baby Moons

NB COVERS:
3 wool Toot Sweet
5 Proraps
2 Fuzbombs wool
2 Bummis SWW
1 Stacinator wool
1 Sellin Threads patchwork wool
1 Righteous Baby wool
1 Holy Sheep Yarns wool soaker


I actually had more, but in desparation for $$, I sold them on the TP.
And I have started a stash of Smalls, too, in case the baby is bigger and needs them sooner.

Now I need to get them washed up!

[mum2tori]

Had another appointment today. Everything is boringly fine. :) I'm measuring right on schedule and we are currently... HEAD DOWN!! :carrot :carrot He is still kind of 'high' but that's okay, I'll take a kick in the ribs over and head rubbing on my bladder making me have to pee constantly. :D

Happy :birthday Willow! You look great Linda. Nice and round. :) Just as a pregnant woman should be. ;)

Jenn- the chocolate should sun out no problem. Just put them out damp and a couple hours later, no stains. If it's really stubborn, use a little lemon or lime juice rubbed on them then sun. Of course you'll rewash then. ;) I wouldn't have believed how much the sun can take out unless I'd seen it myself. :)

Savannah- cool looking stash and a great deal it sounds like too!! There is no such thing as overkill when it comes to covers and newborns. :LOL Nothing worse than no clean covers. :yikes: :yikes:

Anna- glad to hear that your shower was a success. Take that stuff back to Target that you don't want for credit and get something that you need. Even if it's just "regular" stuff, you can use the money that you would have spent on it and buy the stuff you really want online. :D NOW GO SHOPPING!!! :LOL Are you going to be able to be online still once you stop working?

Julia- It just seemed like in the Lance Chronicles before and during the Tour, he kept saying he couldn't wait to get home to see his kids again. He had his son up there on the podium with him last year, so I don't think they have been trying to keep the media away from them too much. Most of the media are suprisingly cool about not chasing the families down. I hope they were there in Paris but I don't think so. :( He just looked so farlorn when he was looking at Basso and his baby.

I love using Aristocrats. I have two for Radish (they were Jack's) and Jack has one that is his standard night cover. Never a leak with them. A little bulky but then what isn't that's a decent night diaper combination. Especially with a heavy soaker. :rolleyes I also have a medium Lana soaker that kind of bridges the sizes between the Small and Large Aristocrat since they don't make a medium. :shrug

Well there's Jack again. Poor guy is teething in four bottom teeth. :(

[msrog]

Wow, you guys have huge stashes. I don't have any NB Kissaluvs in my stash, and a friend has offered to sell 10 for $4 each... Should I ask dh and spring for all of them, or just a couple to try? (You only need the snap down umbilical cord dealie for 10 days anyway, right??)

Caroline, thank you so much! How many dipes does the bag hold? How much can I pay you for it?

Danielle, I am so glad to hear you're finally not working!! Good for you. What are you selling on eBay?

Yay, Christi, I'll bet your u/s goes great...

Jen, I've not heard of that chocolate poo game. It sounds hysterical! I hope you two can get the stains out... But I'm with you; not that anyone will be looking there anyway, you know? I guess it could affect resale value, though. I'll bet you'll get them all out, though.

[sistermama]

Linda - Jack and Willow have the same birthday!! He'll be two tomorrow. I've just spent the night blowing up balloons and hanging them up everywhere. Plus I got him one of those big cut out shaped balloons of Clifford. He has begged for it in the grocery store for months. I can't wait to see him surprised by all the decorations tomorrow morning.

Danielle - glad your auctions are going well. I have a TON of stuff that I need to get listed, but I have procrastinated for months about taking the pictures. I'm about broke, so I better get to it. At least I got about 50 books listed on Half last weekend, and have already sold about 12 of them. Now just have to package and mail them - yuck!

I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately. I've got so much stuff to take care of around the house and I feel like I must get it down before baby comes. If I don't, I'll never get it down before Christmas, and I can't bear the thought of having all this junk/mess around then. We just have way to much stuff for a house this size.

Guess I should go to bed thanks to my little 6:30 alarm clock!!

[Caroline248]

Samantha..YEAH for boring appts!! And that is great the little one is head down!!

Savannah..it holds..um..a lot. I have no idea. It is a medium sized, I used it for traveling mostly, but also I had used it at night for night changes. I will send it to you. Don't worry about paying, it is not a big deal.

Sarah..your stuff will get done!! But I know what you mean. I feel the same way...

Happy Birthday Willow and Jack!!! :birthday:


My family is trying to talk me out of turning the baby. Everyone is worried that is has risk involved. My family is fairly religious (Southern Baptists and all...) and they feel that the Lord put this baby in this position for a reason...My mom (and my little sister) nearly died giving birth to my sister who was breech, so she is over nervous I think. I am nervous too, and my gut is SCREAMING at me not to turn the baby. I haven't even gone to the chiro to try becasue I just have this heavy feeling that I shouldn't. I felt this way before I talked to my family about it, so I am wondering if I shoould listen to my "inner self" or what.
Does anyone else get these super strong vibes at times?? What do you all think??

Caroline

[CdnAloha]

I had a mw apointment yesterday. I love hearing the heartbeat and figuring out position. Looks like bean's head is way down low - very good. :)

Next apointment is at home then we go to once a week. Holy cow time is flying!

I'll post more later, just got a reminder about a meeting.

Cheers,
Julia
P.S. I was mooning over Basso's baby. She was so cute in her little csc jersey. :)

[banana girl]

My family is trying to talk me out of turning the baby. Everyone is worried that is has risk involved. My family is fairly religious (Southern Baptists and all...) and they feel that the Lord put this baby in this position for a reason...My mom (and my little sister) nearly died giving birth to my sister who was breech, so she is over nervous I think. I am nervous too, and my gut is SCREAMING at me not to turn the baby. I haven't even gone to the chiro to try becasue I just have this heavy feeling that I shouldn't. I felt this way before I talked to my family about it, so I am wondering if I shoould listen to my "inner self" or what.
Does anyone else get these super strong vibes at times?? What do you all think??

Caroline

O.k. let me see if i get this... the baby is currently in a breech position and your family is freaked about you trying to turn the baby back into a head down position, right? You have a strong gut feeling as well that it isn't a good idea.
Is this because of the contractions you had about a week or so ago? Are you worried that if the head is down it will trigger pre-term labor? What methods are you considering using to try and turn the baby? Chiropractic techniques are really non-invasive....
If the baby does not turn, what does this mean for the birth? Will you need to have a c-section??? Does this seem like something you want? Does that feel "safer" than waiting and seeing if the baby will turn and you can birth vaginally? I know you are worried about going early and quickly...

I do think it is important to listen to your body and pay attention to strong vibes, but is this fear talking?? I just wouldn't want you to give in to fear, you deserve better. That said, I must admit, I'm not in your body so I don't know what YOU KNOW. If you have that strong of a feeling.... it's your body and you shouldn't discount it.

with love and support

[JenInMpls]

:coffee

Thought all went well at the chiro appt but I liked sprout being in the position s/he was in - it was perfect! Head down, back on the left, legs across the top, feet on the right... all last night I got to endure what felt like flutter kicking on my cervix. Too much room to play now? Or were those hands? And what was up with all of that? Finally now that I've eaten kid has gone back to sleep but I am so tired... perhaps if I go swim all I should do is float back and forth for a while. Last night at prenatal aquacize we did tons of bouncing up and down exercises and that just did not feel good, even if it was in the water. That shouldn't strike me as odd, should it?

All I want to do today is sleep. This morning my egg cracked in half while it was boiling and I nearly poured my kefir into my egg cup instead of the glass. That would have been a righteous mess!

Caroline - if your gut is telling you not to turn the baby, why don't you give it another week and see if the baby will turn itself (acupuncture, homeopathy)? Do you have last month's Mothering? There's a WHOLE section in it about breech babies.

:birthday: Willow and Jack!!

I'm going back to bed and I'm taking my cat with me. Purr.

j :zzz

[banana girl]

I keep hurting myself today! I've pinched my finger in a door and scratched my leg badly enough to bleed by opening a drawer on my desk! On top of all that I've been monitoring my blood today with a glucometer my midwife loaned me so i've had to prick my finger 3 times today! (And I'm not pleased with the numbers I'm getting!) I need to call her and see what she thinks... One of the 3 times i tested i was over the number she had written down. humm.

sore and bleeding, can I go home???

big pouty lips

[chumani]

Hello Ladies!

Sarah- I love doing birthday parties for kids! I bet Jack is having a blast! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Willow and Jack!

Caroline- My baby is breech as well. Follow your mama intuition in all decisions that you make. You know what is best. I am going to try the pulsatilla 200c this weekend. I am undecided about chiro (need to call around and find someone experienced) I will not consider external version, it doesn't feel right to me either. My baby is very engaged in my pelvis, unmoveable when my midwife was palpating. When I checked my cervix 2 days ago I could feel her bum:). Dh and I have been discussing our options but haven't come up with a final birth decision yet. We have been watching the breech videos from Ina May my midwife loaned us. They are wonderful! I highly recommend watching them even if your baby isn't breech. We have a very experienced midwife that will deliver breech as long as we are past 37 weeks (she lives 5 hours away though and we would have to travel to her). Our backup doc has delivered breech but prefers not to, so not a lot of confidence there. I lost my mucous plug all yesterday afternoon and had lots of ctx until about 1am this morning. I'm not having consistent ctx right now but I can feel my cervix and lower uterus doing "something" that is uncomfortable. I haven't checked myself today as I don't want to stir anything else up.

Jen- head down and hoping it is hands you are feeling! I want to go swimming so bad. I bought a cute maternity swim suit on clearance for $16 and have only used it once! It is so hot here though, 107 yesterday, so the outdoor pool is out and the indoor aquatic center is SO crowded! Maybe tomorrow morning.

Anna- I say go home! :) Pg ladies can only take so much. I hope your day gets better!!

I washed all our little baby clothes Monday. They are all folded and put away in the guest room for now. It is nice to have it done. I need to get a few more newborn dipes sewn up.

Happy gestating all!
Have a wonderful day
Sarahb

[chrissy]

Quick question Anna, what numbers are you getting? I've been testing my blood sugar with a glucomoter too.

Love to all. More later,

[Robertsgirl]

Caroline- Woman's intuition is sooo strong. I'd always give it consideration in my decisions. I'd look into all of the ways to turn the baby and see if there is one that stands out as a more secure feeling option to you than any other. I've heard great things about acupuncture turning babies. Of course, homeopathy and chiro are both supposed to be good! :hug

Breastfeeding- What are you guys doing to prepare? My friends tell me that Robert and I need to take a class. We aren't opposed to that but we both read so much and really feel like we can prepare ourselves without it, since most of our friends ideas of preparing is just asking their Dr and taking his word as LAW. Our MW is a LC, so I'm not worried about that part, and she lives less than a mile from us! :thumb I was thinking I'd got to some LLL meetings and get a video or two from MW for Robert and I to watch. Does that sound like enough? I have heard such horror stories about girls that have so many problems, I want to prepare myself, but not get over stressed by others experiences. Anyone else?

[fourlittlebirds]

Caroline, I think there's no harm in trying non-invasive ways of turning the baby, like Jen suggested, but I would be wary of manually turning the baby, too. I really do believe that sometimes there is a VERY good reason why babies are breech. How do you feel about attempting a breech birth?

[4under6]

Here's to all those head-up babies....turn around, turn around! :bouncy :bouncy :bouncy


Anna-
Go home!

Savannah-
Right now I've got 3T girls fall/winter clothes, mostly boutique/expensive stuff, listed on eBay. People are going nutty over them, too! I am currently working on my pile of boy's clothes sizes 4/5/6.
Then off to girls 6/6x.
My ID is elly-nad if you want to peek at them.

Then probably right before baby comes, I will start working on womens/mens fall clothing.

[fourlittlebirds]

Christi, nature knows what it's doing. The classes that focus on how not to interfere with that are the ones I'd look at taking, if you feel the need. I am just so tired of hearing stories of lactation consultants (or birth attendants, for that matter) telling the mom the "right" way to do it, and then the mom is totally in her head thinking about accomplishing some mechanical technique, the effect of which is to have her instincts (that really do know best how to do it) buried.

For me the most important things were to have privacy (it's really hard to relax enough for let-down to occur and for the nipples to become erect if someone is watching you like a hawk and critiquing your technique) and to toughen up my nipples so they wouldn't hurt or crack and bleed. A lot of LCs and midwife suggest nipple twiddling during pregnancy, but I don't think that is really effective, I mean, who wants to do that for long? Better is to go bra-less if you can, for as long as you can, so that the nipples can be exposed to air and abrasion from your clothing. That way they can gradually become less soft and sensitive. It's like anything else -- men who have a foreskin have a much softer and more sensitive glans, for instance. The more the skin is coddled and protected, the more sensitive it will be to stimulation. The other good thing about not wearing a bra, is that once you've started breastfeeding it will cut down on clogged ducts and breast infections. These problems are caused by the breast tissue being compressed and by contact with stale milk.

[Caroline248]

It is so nice to have you guys here!! How supportive...

Okay, here is answers to the 100's of questions!

Baby is breech (butt first) and measuring about two weeks ahead. "they" say that after 35 weeks a babies odds of turning again are pretty low, and with him measuring the size of a 37 weeker..well. So there is a very good chance he will not turn. I was going to use the chiro, and I AM doing the yoga-like positions. I am not comfortable with the chiro though, and I don't have a reason why. My DH is AGAINST the chiro, again, no reason, he just doesn't feel "right". I have never done acupuncture, but it is not reallt the techniques that scare me, it is the actually going and attempting to do something to turn him at this point. Basically, I would normally think I would do ANYTHING to avaoid a c-section, but I am not comfortable with that decision right now. Of course, for ME, I don't want a c-section...but I keep thinking that for the baby that just may be a safer route. I am NOT delivering breech. I can't. I mentioned the problems my mom had with my sister, I was old enough to know what was going on and I can't do that. It was too close. She ended up with an emergency c-section. Plus, if I wait to go into labor and deliver a HUGE baby breech...that doesn't sound like a good combo either. I am afraid, and I am nervous that I will make a decsion based out of fear right now and regret it later on. But if the baby is healthy, then that would make whatever I had to do worth it...

I am going to wait until next Wednesday to see what the head MW says. Maybe we will have a miracle and this big baby will turn himself!! I don't have a copy of last months Mothering..I didn't pay my bill (oops). Does anyone have a copy they wouldn't mind sending me? Or at least that article?

Sarah--I am sorry you are having to do this too. I guess me and DH really need to figure out OUR feelings. If you need to talk....

Thanks again...you all are so great...

Caroline

[Caroline248]

Christi...I wouldn't bother with a breastfeeding class. I agree that you will get too many ways that are right/wrong. Basically, stick your nipple in the babies mouth and get as much of the aeriola(sp?) in as possible! :thumb

I was told with my last daughter I wasn't "doing it right" by a nurse. My aereola are HUGE when I am preg, and she had a tiny mouth. Obviously I couldn't get it all in!! This nurse told me I would never be able to breastfeed for long the way I was doing it. Well, I nursed her 29 months after that, so I think we did okay!

Your MW and going to LLL will be more than enough I think. It is scary the first time, I know I was nervous about how it would feel. And it did hurt. That is normal. Just because it may hurt does not mean you ahve a bad latch or you are "wrong", it means that you are getting the hang of it, as is the baby. Really, the human race would have died out if breastfeeding is as hard as some people make it out to!!

AS far as getting your nipples ready, I never really did anything, but I do go braless all the time. It just is more comfy. I never used any of those lotions, what I would do is express a little milk and rub that in...if you are getting anything "leaking" now you can start that. I have heard good things with the lotion-thingys, and I have heard bad. I just never needed it.

Don't worry...there are enough experianced nursers here to answer ANY question when the time comes!! You will be awesome...just remember this is how your body was MADE to work. It is the natural course of things...

Caroline

[banana girl]

Quick question Anna, what numbers are you getting? I've been testing my blood sugar with a glucomoter too.


Well, my midwife sent a little card with a few numbers written on it.
First thing this morning after fasting over night... I got a 82
her card suggests 105 or less

One hour after eating a big whopping breakfast... I got a 184
her card suggests 140 or less

One hour later (2 hours after eating).. I got a 96
her card suggests 120 or less

I have not yet called her to talk about it, she had suggested if any of the numbers were off that I keep testing and seeing if any particular foods seems to be triggering a bigger reaction than others...

[chrissy]

Oh, okay. I know nothing about the 1 hour after a meal one, which it looks like is the only one out of the range she mentioned. And maybe it was just a fluke. Your other numbers look great! My fasting blood sugar is usually 90-93, my 2 hour after breakfast numbers are usually very good, my 2 hour after lunch #'s are still pretty good, but my 2 hour after dinner ones are the ones that sometimes get a little high- 130's a few times. Let me know what you midwife says. And, don't hurt yourself anymore, okay?!

[greenbeing]

Just wanted to pop in and say Hi!

Dh has been using the computer a lot for class, so it's been difficult to jump on...

Caroline and Sarah, fingers crossed for you-baby can still turn!

Happy birthdays to the little ones! Caroline, your pics are so cute!

I loved reading the lists of dipes! Boy do I still have some shopping to do!

Had a mw appt yesterday. Everything looks good. Baby's head down and hopefully will stay that way! Only one more appointment at the office and then our home visit-I need to get my birth kit ordered here soon.

Hope you have a blessed day!

meredith

[JenInMpls]

Well golly, Anna, what'd you have for breakfast!!! I think you can throw that post-breakfast reading right out the window (along with that door and drawer you hurt yourself on today!). It seems that what it is saying is "eat more protein for breakfast".

Caroline: I have read that you should not try acupuncture for turning until you are 37+ weeks. As for chiro, the purpose (so says my dr) is not to turn the baby but to create the room and the angle of the uterus so that baby will want to put itself in the optimal position because it's most comfortable for it. This may include adjustments particularly of your sacrum (since the ligaments that hold the uterus in place are attached to it) and myofascial work that loosen the ligaments of your belly. Mine does this to me every 2 weeks and every night afterwards its as if Sprout has room to disco or something, I can hardly sleep with all the activity and dang, does baby move around (full-body movement). I haven't had Webster Technique done but I know Anna has said she has so maybe you can tell us more about it Anna - ? The acupuncture technique used to turn babies has an extremely high success rate. I don't know what you would have to lose except quite a bit of worry.

I will do my best to locate the article in Mothering and have Jo copy it and send it off to you!!

Christi - I just read the book "So that's what they're for!" by Janet Tamaro. Breastfeeding basics with a lot of humor and great stories thrown in. I had had it with reading books about babies, childbirth, etc, particularly because they were all so ... I don't know what the word is I'm looking for - perhaps gooey or sentimental. In my hormonal state, they all left me in tears. This book was realistic, factual and funny and I feel very well-prepared. Lots of good pictures too. And Jo also read it - she rarely gets into baby literature, but she read this one cover to cover. My doula told me that some of the stuff in the book is outdated, e.g. if you birth in a hospital, you rarely have to worry now about a nurse sneaking a baby a bottle of water or glucose, one because rooming in has become such a standard and 2, because so many women start out with breastfeeding and hospital staff respects that. Still - I liked the book. You might too. :)

SarahB - I'll be thinking of you and hope all goes well with that baby who seems anxious to get here!

Our "Anti-Shower" is this weekend and our guest list is really, really odd:

My college boyfriend, who has since figured out he's gay
My mom and her "squire" (we can't bring ourselves to call her 68-year-old male companion her boyfriend)
My friend of 23 years, her husband, her parents and her brother
My godmother and her 90-year-old mother
Perhaps steph and her dh
Perhaps our cute lesbian neighbors :D
My friend from grad school and her 3-year-old

I don't know what we could purposely do to make that mix any weirder. We're very sad that our best friends (husband and wife) were roped into helping his sister and BIL move into their apartment in Grand Forks this weekend... sigh. They're our favorites and we actually planned the party that weekend so they could attend, but what his parents say, goes...

Gosh, can you guys tell I'm lonely today? I think I'll go knit a while, or do something productive. Maybe go to Mills Fleet farm to buy canning supplies? I've got a lot of currants to deal with. The cat didn't join me for my nap earlier, but Eddie actually came and walked all over me and then curled up next to me, buried her face in my breast, kneaded my armpit and purred like crazy (what we refer to as a "kitten regression moment", she has them frequently and they're actually very cute!).

:blah

j

[banana girl]

Well golly, Anna, what'd you have for breakfast!!! I think you can throw that post-breakfast reading right out the window (along with that door and drawer you hurt yourself on today!). It seems that what it is saying is "eat more protein for breakfast".

As for chiro, the purpose (so says my dr) is not to turn the baby but to create the room and the angle of the uterus so that baby will want to put itself in the optimal position because it's most comfortable for it.
I haven't had Webster Technique done but I know Anna has said she has so maybe you can tell us more about it Anna - ?


I did eat more for breakfast than usual, but there was quite a bit of protein in it. Egg fritata with smoked salmon as the meat, a bagel with cream cheese and a big glass of juice. I was surprised it went up that much. I'll probably try again tomorrow... see how it looks.

Webster's technique.... humm, well it serves the same purpose of "making room" that Jen described. When webster's has been used on me it involved an adjustment directly to my pubic bone (which did hurt.. I won't lie to you. most adjustments don't, but this one does) He wasn't anywhere near the baby, it was quite low. I'm glad I have a great relationship with my chiro or I might have felt akward about it! Anyway, I'm pretty sure the baby was transverse earlier that week and moved head down soon after the adjustment.

Caroline, have you ever been to a chiropractor? I could understand being leary of going if you have never been. I must say that my chiropractor is a very kind and caring person who makes me feel welcome and loved. His positive energy is great to be around. I realize not all chiros are that ccol, but alot of them are. Good luck with your decision!

[sistermama]

Christi - I would definitely try to get to one La Leche meeting beforehand if you can, just so you would feel comfortable calling the leader if you needed some advice or help. At least you know with La Leche leaders that they have actually nursed infants!!! Lots of lactation consultants haven't, so don't always believe what they say, especially if it isn't working for you.

Anna - what kind of juice did you have for breakfast? OJ sends me right over the edge, although no other foods or drinks bother me. I had a big glass the other day, and I literally had to lay down for about an hour after I drank it, I actually felt woozy and lightheaded from it.

Caroline - as far as the acupuncture goes, my understanding is that they actually use accupressure, not puncture and that anyone good that you go to will be able to show you or dh how to do it yourselves. And like Anna said, the chiro wouldn't do anything to actually turn the baby, but would try to create pelvic conditions that would entice the baby to turn. Also, have you tried doing a little pushing and prodding yourself? I was able to turn the baby head down a couple of weeks ago by just kind of pushing around a little bit. I've always wondered why doctors didn't instruct women in how to do external version themselves, because it would seem to me that it would hurt a heck of a lot less if you were the one doing it. You would now when to start and stop, how much pressure to use, etc. To me it would seem kind of like how much it hurts to have the hygenist floss your teeth at the dentist, but doesn't hurt a bit when you do it yourself. Does that make any sense?

[banana girl]

I've started SHOPPING!!! te he heee.

Ohh this is gonna be so fun!!! I started with the tie-dye set and some cute little baby clothes to dye. I am hoping to get it before the weekend.... we'll see.

good night everyone.. happy dreams to all

[SiValleySteph]

DH & I went to a breastfeeding class and didn't find it that helpful. We didn't really learn anything that we didn't already know from reading on message boards and in books. If you're not well read, I'm sure it would be more helpful. I did like practicing the holds and watching the videos, though.

[chumani]

Caroline- I made a copy (for some reason it wouldn't scan correctly) of the breech article in Mothering. I will send it tomorrow. My second pg ds turned at 36 weeks and was born at 37 weeks. He was 7lbs at birth. www.breechbabies.com has a lot of great information too. I was feeling so stressed about everything and I finally sat dh down and told him this was really important to me and we had a great talk. I feel much better now even though we haven't come to any final decision we are working on it together.

Jen- your "anti-shower" sounds great! I love getting together with an odd mix of people. Some of our best get togethers had guest lists that sound similar to yours!

Chrissy and Anna- Lots of protein and limited sugar (even natural fruit sugars) will help stabilize blood sugar levels. Best wishes!

Anna- Have fun shopping!! It all sounds so cute! I have a tie-dye night gown that all my babies have worn. I have all their pics lined all in the gown.

Christi- I think LLL would be better than a class as well. You might find someone there you would feel comfortable calling if you have any questions.

Have a wonderful evening!!
Sarahb

[plantmommy]

I also agree about LLL meetings over the classes. Seeing moms actually nursing is different than holding a doll, and it's great to get together with a bunch of moms with whom you share a common interest. And yes, it's much easier to call someone you've met, should you run into difficulties, then to call someone out of the blue. Plus, there are different leaders, and you can find out who you might mesh with best at a meeting, and can call that one.

(retired LLL leader, here, btw.)

[JenInMpls]

Caroline - as far as the acupuncture goes, my understanding is that they actually use accupressure, not puncture and that anyone good that you go to will be able to show you or dh how to do it yourselves.

This can work. The acupressure point is the outside of the tip of the smallest toe, known as Bladder 67. Pinching it or applying fingernail pressure to it can work. If you go to an acupuncturist, they will probably either perform moxibustion, which involves holding a burning moxa stick (mugwort root rolled into what looks like a pointy cigar) very near, but not on, Bladder 67 while you relax. Some acupuncturists will insert needles into Bladder 67 and then put moxa beads on the ends of the needles and light them. You relax while the moxa burns and the heat goes in through the needles.

Anna, I bet it was the juice. I love juice but was trained in Germany that one must always cut juice with water, otherwise one was twice as thirsty after drinking the juice. At least this is what they tell their children. I always drink 1/2 juice and 1/2 mineral water.

The inside of my bellybutton is so icky and ugly, waah!

j

[msrog]

Caroline, it seems that your fear is of forcing the baby around to vertex. There is danger in that. But the Webster, acupressure, handstands in the pool, etc. techniques only encourage baby to go that way itself (and uses gravity, head is heavier...). There is no danger of harm doing those, since baby is not affected, just its environment (muscles, gravity)... if there is any reason for baby to be harmed if turned (short cord, placenta pulling away, whatever) I don't believe those gentle "tricks" will work on their own. Some of those links at www.breechbabies.com were great! I'd not heard of bear walking helping, for instance, but it makes sense. I definitely think you should try all the natural ways to get baby to turn on its own, and avoid "forcing" (external version by doctor) since your gut doesn't like it.

I think it's essential to drink TONS of water now, so baby has more room to wiggle. And if baby is engaged in the pelvis, you'll need to disengage first, through weightless tricks like handstands in the pool or propping your butt and feet up on the couch while lying on the floor. Then once baby is out, and finally turns, you'll want to be VERY careful not to sit in positions that would make it want to turn back (maybe even sleep with the mattress propped up high after that!).

Christi, no class or video or even watching a real baby nurse on its mother will help as much as just doing it when your baby arrives. Get the lactation consultants' help then. My hospital offers bf classes on the postpartum unit. Even if there are problems and baby doesn't seem to get it, bf can still work. Everyone (ped, lc, doula, etc.) thought by the looks of things that Nicolas was nursing properly, but by 2 weeks I still had never experienced let down (but didn't know what I didn't know, you know?). DS was skinny and sickly looking, to get extra milk in there after "feedings" I was manually expressing and feeding him with a dropper because I was afraid of nipple confusion... But it took a private 2-hour session with a lactation consultant and a plan including a hospital grade electric double pump and bottles to make it all work. We just went with the flow and gradually "weaned" him off the bm bottles and back to exclusive breast, and by 6 weeks I was finally nursing well enough to shoot milk across the room (haha) and walk around the house nursing him with one hand free! My point is, you likely won't have problems, and if you do, who cares? You can work them out and still end up bf fine.

Anna, sorry about your boo boos today. Hope they feel better! Can't wait to see your tie dyes!

ChumaniSarah, STOP THAT CONTRACTING! :LOL Sending your baby "turn around, then STAY PUT" vibes...

Went to doc today, saw MW for 1st time. Went well... Heartbeats good, still head down, fundal height... !! 44 !! :dropjaw I love telling people that my uterus measures 44 weeks pregnant, haha!

And best of all, got my first ever box of fluffy mail today. Oh, happy, happy, joy, joy! (See my "no longer a fluffy mail virgin" post on the diapering forum, haha) I'm extra excited at dh's reaction... (He had been nonchalant about it all, starting to get annoyed at the spending, and had said all along that fine for me to cloth diaper, but he wouldn't be helping... though he helped a LOT with disposables!) Well, he examined my snapdragons fitted and said it seemed softer and more comfy for baby than disposables, then when I showed him my 2 dozen infant prefolds he said "how am I supposed to put THOSE on the babies?" yippee!!! So I quickly showed him the newspaper fold and jelly roll fold and explained about covers and AIOs. :love

Oh, and he didn't even balk at my comment about using the big prefolds on Nicolas at night, so he can finally feel what "wet" or "dry" is... He just kindof chuckled at the image of him in those giant old fashioned dipes with pins, haha... (Though I was thinking if we did that, I would put underwear over the top). The other idea (he's almost 6, for heaven's sake!) is to have him sleep on the floor instead of top bunk until he figures out how to wake himself up at night and go potty. Very heavy sleeper, like mom. I wonder if subconsciously he doesn't want to climb down that ladder in the dim light, you know? We don't have a bottom bunk; we're using that space under the top bunk for his dresser and race track.

[JenInMpls]

:coffee

So, the question is:

Is it worth it to go to the chiropractor and get adjusted and have myofascial work done on my belly if I sleep like crap the next two days because the kid has so much room to move and does a Viennese Waltz in my belly all night?

Ugh.

I am going to try to go back to bed.

j

[Caroline248]

Anna..YEAH for shopping!! Yes, I have been to a chiro many times. I am not scared of that....I just don't know...How is the blood sugar today?

Savannah, you have it exactly right. I would die for my kids, I could handle some pain or fear that was about me. I am afraid of forcing the baby to do something that is not what is coming naturally. I am doing those exercises (and the stink by the way..yuck!!). The baby was not engaged as of last appt, but since then I have been feeling more pressure and cervical pain, so I am wondering if he has engaged since.

Sarah, thanks for that! I can't wait to read it. I really need to pay that bill!!! How are you feeling? ANy more contrx??

Jen, I know nothing about acupressure. I will talk to my MW about it when I go, maybe she knows someone...SOrry about your sleepless nights...the baby is just preparing you for the next two years or so!!



Ok...hope everyone has a great day today! I am PAINTING!!! I have this burst of energy to get stuff done around here. I have to take a pic of my girls room, I finally finished it and it is GIRLY!! They picked the color, WOW! Talk about pink. I am waiting for my artistic friend to add a tree to the flowers I stenciled, but she went and got herself pregnant so I have to wait a couple of weeks now!!

Caroline

[banana girl]

Hey all!

Well i did the blood testing again today and got much better numbers...Whew! that's a relief! I wasn't super stressed about it, but I was unhappy. Anyway, i think I'll check it one more time and if all is well, be done with it. although, it is kinda fun.... kinda.

Had an interesting evening last night. Went home after work and was so tired I just broke down and boo hooed about it. I was upset about how much there is to do and how little energy I have at the end of the day. I was upset about not having the emotional time and space to process the eminent arrival of a child in my life. And i really wanted a "break" from being big and tired and akward. After my big boo hoo, i felt much better and got a lot done around the house. Stayed up a little later than I meant to, but... hey that's life.

I got out a calender today and realized that I only work 20 more shifts... including today! Wow! That will be done before I know it! There's alot going on in that time too. I will be really busy with cleaning out my stuff, helping train the temp who will start midway thru Aug, and prepping for the students returning to school on the 1st of Sept. Yikes!!!! and Yippee!

Well I have a meeting to go to, so i should skeedaddle...

Later

[4under6]

Last night at about 5 pm, I could feel the dreaded charlie-horse-of-the-abdomen coming on.....and it did. So bad that I thought I might actuallly be in labor.
Has anyone else ever suffered from these?
Imagine a giant charlie horse in your calf(the kind that wakes you up screaming in the night, where you can't move until it goes away), but in your belly.

So I quickly hobbled to the bed and laid down, and had my 4 year old bring me a huge jug of water.
I did feel some heavy duty BH ctx, but they went away after about 45 minutes.

Ugh! I hope that was my only charlie horse episode! So painful! Worse than labor because you literally cannot move when one grips you.

I just went out to check my garden, and I have quite the bounty out there (2nd crop) so it must be picked. The kids will help- they love to pick the beans and peas!

My mom is coming tonight for a few days, so I'm excited to have her company, and the extra help, too!

Have a lovely Thursday!

[MamaAcorn]

I don't think that I've had a charlie horse in my abdomen, but boy are those Braxton Hicks contractions getting strong and powerful. They're already starting to wake me up in the middle of the night and there are times during the day when I have them, where I just have to stop what I'm doing until it passes. Only another month or so of these, then real labor! Fun, fun!

I finally got to start unpacking baby clothes and stuff last night at the new place. I thought that I had plenty of clothes since we're having another boy. It never occured to me that the seasons would be differnt though between an April baby and a September baby. :duh So everything in the 3-6 month size is summer stuff, and that won't exactly work for wintertime with this kiddo. Oh well, it's the perfect excuse to do a little bit of shopping! :D

Tonight, we get a break from moving and get to go to a baseball game. DH got free tickets from work, so it should be fun for at least the first couple of innings, especially since it's Alex's first game.

Well back to work now. Have a good Thursday!

Pam

[JenInMpls]

I've had a pedicure.

It felt great, and my feet look really nice, but I feel ridiculously guilty about the price, even though Jo and I had talked about it and she was totally for it and my MIL sent me a check for my birthday that was for me to spend on myself before the baby came.

But that check didn't even cover 1/3 of the cost :(

Glad everyone's numbers (glucose and BP) are doing better today. Danielle, sorry about the abdominal charlie horse. Sounds horrible. All I've got is Mr/Ms Jig Dancer bopping around uncomfortably low.

Caroline, I have no idea which of our chat threads it was on, now... one in May, perhaps? - but remember when I tried to stump my friend who had just finished her residency with 12 ways to turn a breech or transverse baby? All 12 are posted on one of our threads.

Nap time, I think.

:zzz j

[chumani]

Hello Ladies,

Caroline that sounds so fun. My girls have been begging for a pink/purple room. My ctx have slowed down again as long as I avoid our stairs :).

Anna- I am glad your blood sugar levels are better today. Wahoo! for work almost being done!! It will be so nice for you to just concentrate on your coming babe!

3under3- OUCH! Have you tried upping your calcium/magnesium? I get tons of charlie horses in my legs if I don't. I've never had one in my abdomen before.

Pam- Have fun at the ball game!!

Jen- thanks for the breech turning techniques reminder. I completely forgot about that post. Have a wonderful nap!

Have a wonderful day everyone!! Off to calm down Jonah (he woke up too early from his nap).

Sarahb

[Robertsgirl]

Ok, we went and had our US. The tech wasn't super cooperative with Lori, but we do have a little info, but no answer yet. The tech would tell Lori that the placenta is posterior instead of anterior, which Lori says is good news. Also, Lori said from the views she saw there is a possibility that it has moved, but she couldn't tell for sure. She is going to call tomorrow but isn't really expecting to have the report done until Monday. So that's what we know. A little disappointing as I was ready to be done with this. In good news, if we do have to do an OB, she has one that she trusts and will go to with us when we go to see him and he's on our HMO plan, so that is a positive if things turn out negative, LOL!

[JenInMpls]

Sprout seemed to sleep better when I was having a bowl of ice cream every night before bed.

hmmmmmmmmmmm.

:yum

j

ps: swimming was good, we actually SWAM tonight.

[MamaAcorn]

Good morning all! Now it's me that can't sleep. I've been laying in bed for two hours wide awake, so I finally just gave up and got up. Maybe I'll fix a big yummy breakfast since I've got the time.

The baseball game got rained out last night. It didn't stop ds from having fun though. He :love jumping in all the puddles. As a bonus, the stadium was selling frozen custard, so I finally had that craving fulfilled!

Well, I'm off to start my day!

Pam

[banana girl]

It's a rainy, rainy day here today and i want to go home and SLEEP. I love snuggling in bed with the rain coming down outside... Ummmmm.

However, here I am at work sneaking in time to post while my boss (the marine) is climbing up and down a ladder painting the college colors in a pattern / border around the ceiling. I can't wait for this day to be over!!

I am going to try and get some shopping done before I pick up Jerome and we start cleaning house... his brother and soon to be sister in law are staying with us for a few days. I warned them, that I will be putting them to work if they come to my house this weekend!! I've got too much to do and too little time to entertain guests this weekend! Seriously, I feel like being at work is terribly unfair... i have soooo much to do! Oh well 19 shifts left, counting today!

Well I should get some work done!

[Caroline248]

Christi...I guess that sounds good though, right? That stinks you have to wait for the "official" report over the weekend. I really do hope it works out for you.


Jen...I read your post last night and had to go have a bowl of ice cream..yumm...


Pam...frozed custard!!! I have been dying for that as well. Sorry about the game, but sounds like it worked out.


Anna...are you planning on going back to work after the baby at any time? I couldn't imagine having to go to work now, I enjoy lounging around all morning!!

Is anyone planning on going back to work after the baby? I don't think we ever actually talked about that! I haven't worked in so long, I can't fathom having to get a "real" job!! Although as my husband says, a "real" job may be less work than three or four kids!

Caroline

[sistermama]

However, here I am at work sneaking in time to post while my boss (the marine) is climbing up and down a ladder painting the college colors in a pattern / border around the ceiling. I can't wait for this day to be over!!

Anna - Your boss is so crazy!!! That just cracked me up.

I'm going back to work after the baby. I work part-time and I get to bring baby with me, which I will do for at least 6 months, maybe a year. And then even if I don't bring baby with me, dh and I split shifts, so the baby would just be with him.

Jack is nursing like crazy, after not nursing more than once a day for more than six months. Wonder whats up with that. I'm kind of irritated by it, but figure its a sign he just needs more mama, so I'm trying not to pass my irritation on to him.

His big bday party is at the tube run on Sunday, so I'm trying to figure out what else I need to get together for that. I'm really looking forward to it, it will be fun!!

[MamaAcorn]

I unfortunately have to go back to work afterwards, two weeks afterwards to be exact. Sigh. I so wish that I didn't. I work from home doing medical transcription though, so it's not as bad as it sounds. I still get to stay home with my boys, but I'll be typing medical reports at every free moment and while bfing Jackson in the sling. This is dh's last year of law school though, so I should be able to quit within the year and become a SAHM as soon as he gets a job. I so can't wait!

Pam

[banana girl]

We are planning on having me stay home for a couple of years and depending on how quickly baby # 2 shows up... longer.
I do intend to find some way to earn income while working at home. I have a few ideas about how to do that and don't feel any great pressure to earn alot, just enough to bolster Jerome's income.
Moving to the farm will decrease our monthly expenses dramatically, but if we buy the farm and begin remodeling.... then up goes the expenses again!

I can hardly wait to be HOME!!!

[JenInMpls]

Hooray for a full night's sleep! I tell you, it was the ice cream. :wink

I am not going back to work for at least a year. If it were up to me I wouldn't go back to work at all - at least that's what I think now. I don't know if that sentiment will be true a year or more down the road. Because I work in a school and the child will be nursery-aged in 3 years, there is the potential that I could take the child to school with me, but I don't know if a 3-year-old is ready for a full day of nursery. I could see a mature 4-year-old doing ok in a full-day program. The only drawback to the enrollment in school thing is that both nursery and mixed-age Kindergarten start at around 8:30, and subject classes (language, handwork, etc) start around 11. If I change schools I teach at and am at the school 2 miles away, it would be a different story, but if I'm out at my current school that is 25 miles away from home, I feel like those morning hours might be a waste of time... sorry, I'm thinking out loud here.

Jo is dreadfully worried about finances, I think we'll manage ok if we sit down, create a real budget and stick to it. We need to trim a lot of the unnecessary spending - our going out to eat habit, for instance. And that Jo frequently goes to lunch with her co-workers and treats them.

I am considering working at the RollerDome this winter (the local sports stadium concourses are used for inline skating on free nights... I skated a lot last year, but the jobs are super easy... checking peoples' coats and bags, checking out equipment, skating on the concourses to make sure people are being safe), it would get me some easy evening work and some exercise to boot. we'll see if it works out. I actually have a lot of sideline teaching options - tutoring, Saturday classes, etc - but have never been excited about those, somehow.

I'm supposed to be going grocery shopping and buying food for the anti-shower. Not moving so fast there am I!

xo, j.

[banana girl]

Hey ladies!
I hope you all have a great weekend! Sleep lots and spend quality time with all your dear ones! I'm signing off for the weekend, looking forward to catching up on Monday!

Hugs and kisses

[JenInMpls]

Well, I finally got so gripy about the stinging belly this afternoon that I called the nurses who work with the CNMs at my clinic and asked for suggestions. The nurse was stumped and so called the CNM on call today who asked that I come in. So, 1/2 hour later I was in the clinic. The only idea that the CNM had was:

shingles?!!

But I don't have a rash, and I have had this stinging and irritation for 2 weeks now, which is COMPLETELY inconsistent with shingles, usually you have 3-4 days of sensitivity and then get a rash with blisters which go away eventually. And she inspected my belly for a rash!! Very thoroughly!! Beyond that she said that it could simply be a nerve getting irritated from the uterus pushing on it, which is exactly what my chiropractor said. The CNM suggested a cream, if I wanted to use it; I think I'll just keep putting up with it. If it's a nerve, there is little that can be done for it topically except for a lidocaine ointment, which seems a little extreme to me.

In other spontaneous check-up news, my uterus was measuring a very little bit ahead, my bp was 104/76, the kid's hr was good (and I got to hear it cos she used a doptone), and sprout is vertex and LOA although far from engaged. Stay there baby!! (Well, vertex and left-side, anyway!)

j

(shingles?!!)

[greenbeing]

Speaking of work,

I just came back from having lunch with my new teammates for this year. Yes, I have to go BACK to work before the baby even comes :irked: But, at least it's only for a month or so, then I'll be home until right before Christmas break. I'll go back, then have a couple of more weeks off for Christmas. Then, of course I'll finish out the rest of the school year, and baby will stay home with dad during the day. That's the plan. Dh will be finished with school next summer, hopefully get a job, and then I'll be able to stay with the little one.

[msrog]

We don't plan to have me go back to work, finally! If anything I'll do home day care again here. That was fun, though this time around I would just stick with 2 or 3 kids. When I had 5, I burnt myself out in one winter!

I am at the point where I just want to have babies according to God's wishes for me, until I just can't have any more, haha! I figure I have 10 good childbearing years left (I'm 32)?? So maybe we'll have like 5 more? Anyway, we'll just let things play out. I'm very thrilled about my new career as a homemaker/domestic engineer, though. And do I ever have a LOT to learn! (Still not very organized, not great with cleaning or cooking, no clue about sewing, etc...) But I have desire and determination, a good attitude, and no outside job. I CAN DO THIS! =O)

Danielle and Jen, I'm sorry about your sore bellies. I wonder, Danielle, if your round ligament was spasming or something? Weird. I've never experienced that nor heard of it.

Hey, am I the only schmuck on here who doesn't have a subscription to Mothering magazine? How did you all find this great web site?

Happy, productive weekend to you all!

[sistermama]

Jen - Glad your appt went well!!

Sheryl- How's camp going? Hope you're not overdoing it!

I am in such a foul mood today!! Worrying about money is the worst - been crabby to dh because of it too. Its frustrating though, cause I'm sure he doesn't even know what bills I'm trying to pay, or how much is in our accounts, etc. etc.

At least I got about 150 more books listed at half.com today, plus 5 of them have already sold, so I've sold about 20 books since last week. Now just to package and mail them tomorrow. Has anyone else sold books? I can't come up with a cheap way to package them that I am pleased with. Right now I am just bubble wrapping them and then wrapping them in brown shipping paper, but that doens't seem really sturdy.

My best friend, who is throwing my shower, has been so grumpy and complainy about EVERYTHING lately and has even started complaining to ME about stuff she is doing for my shower. It is really ridiculous because it is being held at my mom's house and my mom is paying for everything, so I kind of feel like, "so shut up and just let my mom do it!" It is making me feel sh***y listening to her complain about it. On the good side I did finish my registery tonight and finally found a little newborn wool soaker (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/naturalbaby/woolsoaker.html) (the aristocrats are so huge!)

Guess I should go to sleep, since its midnight! Anyone else been starving lately??? I can eat a huge meal and be ravenous two hours later.

[MamaAcorn]

Sarah - I can so relate to you on the money front and dh being clueless. I went through the money stiuation again with dh yesterday and now he finally is starting to get it. Things are always so tight at the end of the semesters with the students loans gone and waiting for the next batch to arrive while the bills for stating a new semester biuld up. Not to mention that we're moving, which will save us money the rest of the year, is adding a lot of extra expenses to this month. On a positive light, it seems to be these tougher times that really bond dh and me with the two of us leaning on each other more.

On the pregnancy front, another night of little sleep. After getting up early yesterday and working hard all day, I went to bed around 11:30 only to wake up an hour later to go to the bathroom, climb into bed, snuggle up next to ds, and find a huge wet spot on the bed. Ds fell asleep right after drinking a huge cup of water and hadn't gone to the bathroom since dinner. Ooops! So, I took off his wet clothes and put him in the toddler bed next to ours (all without him waking up, lucky duck!) and changed all of our linens. Then I was beyond exhausted and couldn't go to sleep. My back ached and my calves were cramping, so I gave up on the bed and slept out in the recliner for a few hours. I really hate not being able to sleep especially with having so much to do around here.

I got a really super sweet e-mail from my MIL this morning with her saying what a great couple dh and I are and how we're an inspiration to so many and that it's obvious to all how much we love each other, especially through ds. Anyway, it made me feel so :love .

Well, it's another day of packing, unpacking, and moving, so I better get motivated. Have a great weekend all!

Pam

[msrog]

Pam, what a sweet thing for your MIL to say! That is just wonderful. I had a nice experience with my MIL yesterday, too. I sent her an email asking if she had ever used cloth diapers with my dh (he was born and raised in Italy)... She wrote back, "boy did I ever!" and was really supportive, and positive about it all. (Quite unlike the responses I've been getting from my friends and family, haha). I thought that was neat.

[mum2tori]

Greetings alll-

Well the last couple of days have been very stressful. A bunch of people from DH's NG unit have been activiated this past week. Several of his guys (in his squad that he's responsible for). We heard Wednesday night that David was 'on the list'. Well as of the two lists that have come out (Thur & Fri) he ISN'T on them. We still have a while before they are done with this. UGH!! I'm so tired of the "yes you are, no you aren't, yes you are". It is so exhausting. They've moved up the deployment dates too. :bang He'd have to go to Ft. H in mid August and would leave stateside in mid-Nov. The reality really sunk in when I realized if David leaves, Radish will be Jack's age when he gets back. :bawl :bawl And Tori will be FIVE!!

Wednesday night, Mary (MIL) came over and watched the kids. We went to see a movie. I think David was trying to get my mind on other things. :) Saw the Bourne Supremacy. It's a great movie if you like spy thrillers.

Last night was our 10th anniversary. And Mary was nice enough to come over (again :eek) and watch the kids so we could go out. We had dinner (steaks! Yummy!) and saw a movie. That's 2 movies within 3 days. :LOL We haven't seen this many movies out at the theatre in 8 months. :LOL We saw De-Lovely with Kevin Kline aand Ashley Judd. It's about Cole Porter. Very good movie, a little odd the way they filmed it but the music was awesome. Love the soundtrack, we've been listening to it in the car for a couple of weeks now. :)

Poor Jack is sick. Both Tori and he have runny noses but Jack is just miserable. We are pretty sure it's allergies. David is feeling it a little too (they get his allergies). Last night after we got home was really bad, Jack didn't sleep more than an hour or two the WHOLE night. David and I took turns 'sleeping' (yeah right!) in the glider holding him. He'd sleep for a little while but everytime we'd try to lay him down, he'd start crying. I think the drainage is upsetting his stomach. Poor pitiful thing. And he's cutting four bottom teeth at the sametime. We've been up since 6am (finally gave up trying). He just sat on the couch curled next to me for an hour this morning. I was able to finally get him to go to back sleep at about 9am and he slept for an 1.5 hour this morning. I think I'm going to go wake David up and let him have the children for a while. I think I got 2.5 hours of sleep total last night. If the same thing happens tonight, I'm going have David get the swing back down. Maybe he'd sleep better semi-sitting up and the swaying motion will help.. I had the mattress propped up but it didn't seem to help much. He is so pitiful because he's so tired.

Well off to try to get some things done today, maybe a nap...

[msrog]

Well, happy anniversary, Samantha!! The movie date sounded fun; we loved that first Bourne Identity movie... I'm so sorry your kids aren't feeling well; especially your little Jack. I hope you got some rest today! And what a rollercoaster ride you and dh seem to be on with his job. I hope he ends up getting to be here until after Radish is born. Maybe he won't even have to go at all? I'm glad I'm not a Navy wife anymore. Hugs!

Caroline, I can just imagine your husband's shock, haha! He's probably really getting into high gear now. Enjoy finishing those project, and we'll keep thinking sticky thoughts that you'll go past 37 weeks and have time to finish them all...

[Caroline248]

Samantha, do you have any of those bouncy seat things? Those are great for even a 1 year old to sleep in (if he is not too big!! I remember putting a pilow at the top for mine and they slept well when they had respiratory issues.

Thanks for the stay put viebes Savannah..but I think one more week and I am ready to go. Watch, this one will be late!!!

Last night I was up from 4 am to 6 am with "pain". My lower back was splitting open, and I was having these muscle spasm type things in my lower uterus. They did not feel like cntrx, but they were painful. I HAD to get up and walk. I started thinking the full moon last night got me...but they stopped around 7 am and I went back to sleep. I had these nights when I was pregnant with Lilly, and it took two weeks of night time labor before the real thing. My first was induced. Bridget was so quick and easy, just a weekend of early labor. I think this one is going to be looong. Great.

I also think he might have turned feet first. I feel a hard part on each side of the top of my uterus. Ugh. I can't wait until Wednesday!!

Hope everyone else is doing well...

Caroline

[wardermom]

Samantha-On Wedneday, it's our 10th anniversary too!!! Yeah!!! :thumb

[mum2tori]

Well Jack slept MUCH better last night. Only one coughing fit that kind of woke him up but he settled right now. I'd forgotton about the bouncy seat (good idea), still have that in the closet too. Might keep that in mind if he still has trouble. He doesn't seem to want to nap today though. But I'm pretty sure his fever broke last night his head was cool last night. He hasn't been nearly as warm today. I took a long warm/hot shower with him last night and then rubbed & massaged him with lavender lotion. He almost fell asleep on the changing table before I was done. :LOL David patted him twice on the back and he was out. Snoring! Two of his four teeth have cut through too. He is finally getting teeth between his bottom fronts and his first year bottom molars. He's looked so goofy on the bottom without any teeth between them, but why do they ALL have to come in at the sametime?? :irked: His eyeteeth are the ones that are just about to cut through.

Tori's broke yesterday during her nap, so she's on the road to recovery. Good thing too, she was almost down right obnoxious that last couple of days. :LOL :LOL She might not have made it another week without one of us killing her. (j/k) ;)

Thanks for the well wishes. We still can't believe that it's been 10 years...

Congratulations Melanie on your 10 years. :D :D

Caroline keep that baby sticky! :)

Well everyone is taking a nap and I need to get a couple of things done while it's quiet. Be checking with everyone later. :)

[Caroline248]

Where is everyone????

Melanie and Samantha..Happy Anniversary!!!

Samantha...sounds yucky. Teething is so hard. On you too!!! I hope you are getting a wonderful nap!!

All has quieted down here. Of course, that probably means it will start up again tonight. That could last for weeks. Ugh. I can't wait to see this baby now!! One more week and we are home free!!!!!! Two weeks would be even better for the baby....

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

Today was the anti-shower, it was fun even though it was very hot and humid outside. Jo prepared all of the food (I made some really rockin' salsa, though) and it was all done at the same time and it was SO good! We had a lovely time even with our mish-mash group, got a ton of gift cards from Target (time to go buy those big-ticket items), and the best part: our house is clean. Clean to a point where I can do the little piddly cleaning things (like cleaning fingerprints off of door frames, etc) without feeling overwhelmed.

If my midwife knew what I ate today, though! OK, I did eat a lot of fruit and salsa, but I also ate a hot dog, chips, a fluffy white-bread bun and 3 s'mores. There was a minor incident with one of our s'mores sticks... a squirrel had an *ahem* altercation with it and lost a big chunk of tail fur on the sticky, marshmallowy end. It did make us laugh, though, we figured that the squirrel, while probably quite angry, was not that damaged. We wish that we had seen it happen...

Best of all, my friend Tanya came, un-RSVPed, with her one-month-old son, Tarik. He is beautiful, and I got to sit with her and talk baby and birth while she nursed. She had the best birth story I had heard in a while - she left an ob appt feeling like she was having contractions, and told her doctor, who told her to go home and keep an eye on them and call when they got closer together... that was around 10 am. She went home, they got stronger and closer together. Around 1:30 or so, she called and told them that they were 5 minutes apart. They told her to keep laboring at home and call when they were 2-3 minutes apart, because at the moment, they were full and didn't have a bed for her! But hopefully they will be able to discharge someone by the time she was ready to give birth! so Tanya labored at home some more, and an hour later, they were 2 minutes apart, she called again, they told her to come in (around 2:30) and she had Tarik at 5:30. First baby! I would bet that she labored so fast because she was at home.

Her son is a great nurser, too, it was heartening to see a first-time mom my age look very comfortable nursing. And her breasts and nipples are shaped just like mine ;)

so I'm kind of on a baby cloud right now, I'm so glad that she brought him by :D

Sprout kicks hellos to you all,

jen

[adventuregirl]

Hey Girls!

I read the first page of posts and when I realized there were 4 more, I had to just skip it and post. Sorry I am missing so much, I really want to keep up with all of you!

I have three more days with my little bro, 4 more weeks of camp and am 35 weeks! I am sooooo tempted to quit, but feel so accountable to finish this job. Its not too much physically, I can actually do quite a bit of sitting around, I am just ready to have a bunch of free time. I'll see how this week goes...

OK, gotta run to the airport, 1.5 hours away to pick up my brother's fiancee. Gonna be a late night, ugh!