Still Around

I'm still here. Had some major changes in the past couple of years. I'm almost done with getting my Associates. However, on the not great front, my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. However, she has been diagnosed young, so we have a good chance of really working with her and helping her adapt.

Happy Mother's Day

Not only is it mother's day, but it's also my husband's birthday. So, I have two pictures to share. One is of my Mother's Day gift, and the other is my husband's birthday gift.

Yes, my husband bought this for himself. He's apparently in desperate need of a coffee cup to take to work. You know, when I married him, he didn't even touch coffee. Now, he's at Starbucks just about everyday and one of the first things we bought when we got here was a coffee pot. Also, my daughter and I made that card for him yesterday. It took us forever because my son was fussy and refused to be set down anywhere.


I really did need these new slippers. My old ones [almost a year old] were falling apart. These ones are higher quality. That card/wall hanging? Yeah, my daughter showed that to me Friday when she came home from school. She has issues with keeping things secret and hidden. I'm lucky she hasn't tried to discuss the ins and outs of breastfeeding and changing diapers at the bus stop in the mornings.

One day, my daughter is actually going to get a chance to pick out the gifts she gives to us.

One day. In other news, my daughter is growing less and less resentful of my son's crying. Still, she's being handling this like a champion. I've discovered she copes best if I have her helping me with him. She's gotten good at remember what all we need for diaper changes and keeping track of where his binky is. She's a godsend.

The State of the Breck Family

I know, it's been forever since I've actually updated this blog. I'm so very bad at this. April 7th my baby boy was born at 7:54pm. He was 9lbs 6oz and 21" long. I was scheduled to be induced, but I went into labor on the very day it was scheduled for. Apparently, my boy decided he should come along on his own if they were just going to make him come along anyway.

My girl is feeling a bit neglected and acting out a tad, but she's handling pretty darn good, in my opinion. She's made a comment or two about it being better when the baby isn't crying, but she hasn't tried to tip him out of the bassinet or anything. She's just [mostly] patiently waiting for him to get older so he cries less and can actually play with her a bit.

In other news, Baby Girl is sick right now. She's got an ear infect and, I believe, a cold as well. It makes her very grumpy and contrary. This doesn't make my husband happy. We're hoping she gets over the jealousy and that her baby brother gets settled in soon enough so that we can pay more attention to her.

Little Man was fussy as can be for a few days, and I couldn't figure out why. It turns out that, unlike his big sister, he's very sensitive to the caffeine I take in. Of course, I had gone back to drinking pop a lot. So, I cut that out, and he was still a bit reluctant to breast feed. Then I figured out that he's only reluctant when we're back in my room. So, with the exception of night time feedings, we'll be doing that in the living room. I'm just glad we figured it out, because I was getting very frustrated and discouraged. However, now that he's figured out he's going to be in the living room, he's making up for all the feeding he didn't do before. I'll keep my water handy so I can keep hydrated.



p.s. I've lost over half the weight I gained while pregnant. However, I still need to get into shape. However, all the swelling [you can see it in the second image] is finally gone.

The Joys of Pregnancy [Some Sarcastic, Some Not]

My stomach still feels like one giant bruise today from my ultrasound Monday. They can't change my due date in my records given that all their measurements and such point to March 27th regardless of when it's actually possible for me to have given birth. However, according to my doctor, if I did get pregnant when I say I did, and they induce [because their dates say I'm over-due] it will only be 3 wks before my actual due date, and therefor still with in the full term window. So, it's safe for my son.

However, I'm still tired from having to be at the hospital most of the day both Monday and Tuesday. Also, I have to start going in more often. I have an appointment in 3wks, then one 2 wks after that. I've decided to stick with the same doctor [actually, I think she said she was a midwife, whatever, she's got experience and a great bedside manner] since I'm so close to my time. Though, when I brought up the conflicting due dates, she first asked if there was a question of who the father was. She then said I'd be surprised how often that happens here. I told her that, unfortunately, it probably wouldn't surprise me.

Anyway, they'll probably be inducing me around April 6th or 7th. Probably. Anyway, so far my baby is healthy and thriving. I was told she'd be able to give me a better idea of how big he is so far next visit. She had issues measuring me because he kept moving. The lady giving me the ultrasound said my son looked to be about 4lbs so far.

Oh, I'm also going through Braxton Hicks contractions. Fun! Oh, and I'm lactating already. Double fun! /sarcasm.

In other news, my daughter has a speaking part in her 1st grade Seussical. She's very excited. Also, she's been constantly organizing and re-organizing the stuff people have already given us for the baby. I wasn't aware that older siblings had a nesting period before the baby came. Go figure!

Ack

Due date is still in debate. I did get a belly band, because sometimes, it just hurts. I also talked a little with the doctor about having a tubal ligation. Apparently they do it the day after birth, on an availability basis. If there's not a surgeon / OR room availiable, they might wait until after my 6wk [could be wrong about the time line] visit.

In other news, I cut back on caffeine and the baby isn't waking me up as much. However, I've had heartburn off and on for the past few days. Gr.

Active Baby and Back to School

Jr. here has been moving a lot the last few days. I'm not sure if he's been getting the hiccups, I've been drinking too much caffeine, or a combination of both. It wouldn't be so bad, except he does it at night too, and I can't sleep.

I'm cutting back on the caffeine. I needed to anyway, but this is just all the more reason to.

In other news, my oldest goes back to school tomorrow! She's been getting excited about feeling the baby move. Every time I have her feel him, she jumps back afterword, giggling, and then starts going on and on about the things she's going to teach him.

Gender

I can't believe I forgot to update this!

Anyway, it's a boy!

Now I'm just wondering if it's best to stick to one breast per feeding or switch sides. I know I switched with my daughter, but it's not like I had anyone decent to tell me the dos and don'ts of feeding when I first had my daughter almost 7 years ago!


Doctor's Current Due Date Estimate: March 27th
My Current Due Date Estimate: May 14th

Status of the Littlest Breck

Got an ultrasound today. They squeezed me in early because some of my bloodwork had come back irregular. Now they're telling me my due date has been moved up a month. I think I won't be giving birth that early since I'm pretty damn sure I couldn't have concieved early enough for that. I'll talk to my doctor about it when I go for my next check up.

I did find out what gender the littlest one would be, but I'm waiting to hear back from a friend who I promised I would tell immediately. I wouldn't want her to be the last to know.

My Girl Knows

I just told my daughter that she was going to be a big sister. She was very happy, but laughed when I told her that the baby was in my tummy.

15 minutes later, she asked me how the babies got out of stomachs. That's my girl! I told her we'd get a book so we made sure she got the right answer.

State of the Baby

My first appointment is tomorrow. I've gained 10lbs already. I should have only gained 3-5. At this point I'm just praying there's only one baby in here. I swear it grows as I sleep. I fear the belly!

*snerk*

Watch What You Eat

My daughter has been very sick [for her anyway] this week. Yesterday, when she seemed to be fine, I sent her to school. Of course they called to have me come pick her up. She wanted a granola bar, so I gave her one. A couple of bites in, she said she was full, and left it on the counter.

...

Yes, without stopping and thinking, I ate it.

I thought I was going to die last night.

Children and DVRs

My 6 year old daughter figured out, on her own, how to set up the DVR to record a TV series. I only figured this out because I noticed it was going to record it later today. At first I thought my husband had set it up for her, but he said he'd never even heard of the show.

There's only one problem with this. She doesn't know where to go to play the recordings. I think we're going to have to show her how to do that.

Morning Sickness

Anything that you have to plan part of your day around and brings no joy, is merely a symptom of something else, should be automatically called evil.

If God was truly a woman, and not some sexless deity, disconnected because of the gift of free will, then pregnancy would not have these kind of 'symptoms'. The end result may be worth it, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to bitch, gripe, and complain the entire time!

Dancing, Eating, Working Out

When my 6 [almost 7] year old dances sometimes, she reminds me of nothing so much as the Fire Gang characters from Labyrinth. Pre self-decapitation, of course. Theirs, not hers. My daughter didn't come with a detachable head. She's scary enough with one that we can't accidentally lose or pack away during moving.

In other news, I forget how early one starts to 'feel' pregnant. Besides the sickness, that is. Right now, I'm not really 'feeling' it. However, I do feel like I need to start eating better and working out. We have some kind of elliptical workout machine that my husband bought. I really should start using it.

Tomorrow, after I see my girl off at the bus stop, I'll work out. I figure... 30 min working out should be good this early on, yeah? Also, I need to start remembering to eat. Bad me.

My Oldest Girl

My oldest seems to be growing up so fast these days. She can operate a laptop [at almost 7 years of age] far better than my mother can, and she's close to operating it almost as well as I do. It's so very scary sometimes.

She managed to get 100% on her first two spelling tests. We haven't gotten her third back yet. Also, her handwriting is improving greatly. I'm so very proud of her.

However, she has had issues with having 'accidents' at school. We're pretty sure it's from all the upheaval in her life. She hasn't had an accident since we started sending a change of clothes in her backback with her.

In other news, she's a smartass, just like her father. There are days I can't catch a break with these two!

New Life

Just took a pregnancy test a couple of weeks ago. I'm in the family way again!

This week the morning sickness really started. Freaked my daughter out because she walked in on me Monday morning. Had to tell her that my stomach was just a little upset. We're not planning on letting her know until we can tell her if it's a baby brother or sister.

I wonder how long after a vaginal delivery they'll give you a tubal ligation. This is definitely the last time I want to be pregnant.