Week 15 Visit

When I went to the doctor to confirm my pregnancy back in week 8, I believe it was, they found a subchorionic hematoma.  That's a gathering of blood between the membranes of the placenta and the uterus. Some doctors will also just refer to it as a blood clot.  I had to go back to the doctor every 2 weeks to get ultrasounds to check on the status of the bleed.  I was also put on pelvic rest (no exercise, no lifting anything over 20 lbs (i.e Emily and R), etc...).  I do not remember having this with the girls but apparently I did. Of course when you hear something like that you do all your research (i.e. you "Google that sh*t") and you worry.  Every little twinge makes you worry.  Well, I shall worry no more (about that at least) cause today they told me it's GONE!  

I also got the results from the blood test for down syndrome and, after much worry, everything is great.  

I also had the pleasure of having my Glucose test today.  If you've experienced this test, you know I am being sarcastic. That drink takes me back to when I was a little kid drinking that orange drink from McDonald's.  Holy sugar, Batman!  Normally, that test is given between weeks 24 & 28 but because I have a history of Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome, they like to be cautious and do the test early.  If I remember correctly, I may even have to do it again between weeks 24 & 28.  I haven't had Gestational Diabetes with either of the girls so the doctor isn't too worried.  

Today was the first time I got to hear the baby's heartbeat and it was wonderful!  :)  The Ultrasound Tech tried to see if she could tell the sex of the baby but the baby was being stubborn.  He/She was sitting Indian style and the tech couldn't get a good look.  Have to wait till my next visit which will be the big 20 week ultrasound. 

Till then...

Mommie x 3

Yup, I am a glutton for punishment!  Baby #3 is on the way and due April 19th. 

A friend of mine suggested I blog about my pregnancy so here's the first installment...the announcement!

I found out on Matt's birthday and of course, had to go find the most perfect card.  Found one that talked about family...fitting, I think and signed it <3 Me and Baby #3. He loved it and said it was the best gift I could have ever given him which is good considering it was the only gift I got him. :) 

Been a tough 15 weeks but I am getting through it.  Jenna is super excited to be a big sister again and Em doesn't really understand what's going on yet.

We waited a while to tell the girls cause we weren't sure how Jenna would take the news and we wanted to wait till I was safely in the 2nd trimester.  All has been good, just haven't been feeling 100%...still!  I started to feel better week 11 and then week 12 hit and I was feeling sick again.  This week it has been evening sickness.  I have the hardest time trying to make dinner without getting sick and forget about eating it. It will all be worth it in the end!

Off to another doctor's appointment in the morning so I will write about it tomorrow afternoon.  Till then...

My long hiatus

I know, I know...you are wondering where the heck I have been.  Well, this summer I was busy with the Fab 4.  Thankfully, my brother-in-law's sister and mother helped me a bit but trying to keep 4 children aged 1-5 busy was no easy task.  We had many fun day trips.  We went to the zoo, many parks, the Crayola Factory and other things that have slipped my exhausted mind.  I think it's safe to say we had a very fun summer.  Jenna was sad to have it end and go to school..guess that's good sign of a good summer. 



Just an update on what we have been up to....
 
We are now in full swing with school and activities.  Jenna decided she wanted to try soccer this year instead of dance.  She is quite the soccer star and enjoying it.  She has practice twice a week and a game every Sat.  Don't know how she isn't run-down tired but...wait, she is!  Soccer will be over soon and then I am going to make her sleep for a few days. :)  Wishful thinking, I know.  She is doing great in Kindergarten.  Actually, she is "Star of the Week" this week.  She was so excited.  All summer she talked about hos she would have homework and she couldn't wait for that.  Now that she has homework every night she is eating her words.  I told her to get used to it cause it won't end till she graduates college.  I, on the other hand, am failing Kindergarten!  Yes, I am a college graduate but I can't handle these simple directions, apparently.  For example, Jenna comes home with a sheet of paper and it reads (word for word) "Directions: Trace the shapes. Then find the shapes in the picture below."  Simple enough, right? WRONG!  I had Jenna trace the shapes and then she found all of the shapes in the picture.  She hands it into her teacher the next day.  It comes back with the dreaded red pen "Next time, color the shapes".  WHAT?!?!  Where in the directions did it say to color the shapes?  To really make her point, the teacher colored 2 of the 4 shapes! As if I wouldn't understand her directions.  Come on now!  UGH!!!  Makes me so angry.  If you wanted the shapes colored then tell us to color them to begin with.  Kindergarteners (and their parents) aren't mind readers.  So frustrating!  

Enough of that nonsense....

Emily has begun the Terrible 2 tantrums!  I know it's normal and it's because she can't communicate with us well enough but it's still getting to me.  She will go on and on and on for a good 5 mins.  I am great at ignoring them but she wants to be held sometimes during them but when I do she doesn't want to be held and then she wants to be held and you get my point. I am looking forward to this stage passing and quickly!  Emily did not take well to Jenna going to school.  For the first 2 weeks, every day at drop off, Emily would cry and cry that she wanted to Jenna.  So sad but we have gotten passed it...till next year, I'm sure.  

Think that brings us to present day....I promise I will write more. 

Bye Bye Binky

Bye bye Binky! 

Jenna was a Binky baby and I was not looking forward to taking it away. BUT, like Jenna does, she surprised me and was wonderful.  I took her to Build-a-Bear and she said "Bye bye Binky" as she put it inside of her new "Binky Unicorn." Now Matt will argue with me on this next part, but she was WONDERFUL with giving up her Binky.  Of course, I wasn't home that night at bedtime, so, to me, she WAS wonderful. :)  As Matt tells it, Jenna was scolding him saying, "How could you do this to me?" and such.  Either way, she was great and I couldn't have been more proud of her.  

Emily, on the other hand, is a thumb sucker.  I have no idea how we are going to break this habit.  I can't simply take her thumb away. She is a tough cookie and I know she will put up a fight BUT I have faith that Matt and I will be able to help her break this nasty habit.  If anyone has any ideas or tips, please share!

Anything but predictable

A friend of mine saw this today and thought of me.  :)  Love it!  Thought I would share this on this very rain day here in NJ. Now it's time to search Pinterest for ideas for what to do with 4 little ones.

The Bare Bottom Method

WARNING: Bragging to begin in 3, 2, 1...My daughters are potty training ROCK STARS!  A few of you asked me to share the potty training method I used with the girls.  Em is on day 2 and didn't have any accidents today. ** Ok, so I wrote that first part too soon.  Em had an accident, a MAJOR accident.  She POOPED in the playroom!  Of course, reading all things potty training will tell you that pooping is always the hardest part of potty training. Jenna had issues too so I am not worried about this little set back.** 

Ok, back to the method.  It's called the bare bottom method and in three days, your child can be potty trained.  It's simple...no diapers or underpants or tight pants or pull-ups or anything....just your baby's bare bottom.  Also, plan on being home for at least 2-3 days.  You will have accidents the first half of day #1 and you will most likely want to give up...DON'T...it will get better.  The first day at nap, I put the girls in a diaper which I took off as soon as they woke up and put them on the potty.  The first night at bed, I put them in a diaper as well.  The 2nd day you will see less accidents and at nap, I didn't put a diaper on the girls and I moved the potty seat up into their rooms for nap so it was there if they needed it.  At bedtime on day #2 I still put them in a diaper but they are less wet than before we started potty training.  Now, the method I read about says to use bare bottom for at least 3 months but I feel like you don't need to do it for that long.  Plus, I usually just put the girls in nightgowns or dresses and if we want to leave the house, that's not appropriate.  By day #3 you should be accident free and having a wonderful time not changing diapers!  :)  

A few other tips:
*Give treats for going on the potty.  Jenna got M&Ms and Em gets chocolate chips (I didn't have M&Ms)

*Do a dance and sing a song when they go potty. Pee Pee on the Potty! Pee Pee on the Potty! :)  It works!

*Don't punish for accidents...just correct.  You don't want them to be afraid to go potty.

*If you have wall to wall carpeting, hang out in a room without carpeting. :) Makes accidents less stressful. We hung out in the kitchen and we baked cookies!  

*Like Freddy says, RELAX!  If you are stressed, your child will be stressed.  

Good luck and enjoy the wonderful world of no more diapers!!

Potty Training Begins Again

And here we go again...


We are half way through day #1 and I can tell it's going to be a success.  Em is doing fantastic and gets so excited after going on the potty. Of course, it could be the chocolate chips she gets when she goes on the potty.  She has gone on the potty 6 times and has had 2 accidents.  I shouldn't be counting her 2nd accident because she caught herself and finished on the potty. Let's call is 1 1/2 accidents then. :) She is taking a nap right now with a diaper on and when she wakes up she will continue kicking potty training's butt! <fingers crossed>