April May June 2003 Moms and Kids

[jarm]

There's the Animal Rescue Center. It's a Dora thing, but it's got Diego. Arlyn loves to carry it around. I could only find it on the Toys R Us Canada website (http://www.toysrus.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&productId=65551).

It's too new to have toys, I think. Although the rescue pack would definitely be a cool gift.

[clzj]

HD-look at kmart for diego stuff

[hisdaffodil]

buddy gift was mailed today so be on the lookout for it. :)

[clzj]

Has anyone heard from Stephanie since we moved over here?

[mommy2AlliWill]

hi clzj- she posts regularly in her LJ but I am not sure if she comes over to this site.

My buddy gift is packaged to go out tomorrow. I want to send a sorry out (to the Mom since I know no 2 year old cares) for the insane way it is wrapped. I neglected to wait until naptime to wrap so I had had two little wrapping helpers:)

[kdevita]

Dang notifications never let me know there was any activity in here!

I have a Honda CR-V and LOVE it. Its not as big as the big SUVs but still very spacious and so comfy! Its super safe and I feel very safe in it. Im thinking I want to Honda Pilot though when we have 2 kids. Its got the extra 3rd row of seats or they go down for storage. The CRV would fit 2 car seats but then there would be no room for anyone else.

Our gifts our going out this weekend. I have them, just havent wrapped them.

Getting our tree this weekend...

Sheree, so sorry to hear how crappy your 2005 has been!! Cheers to a better year for you and your family!!

Hope you are all well and had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[hisdaffodil]

Hey, I just saw on tv that the Dora Live Pirate Adventure thingy is coming to my city! I know someone had mentioned taking their kid to something like this, I think. Did it work out okay? Is he too young? Would he get it that the people up there are supposed to be Dora and Diego?

I'm excited anyway. Heh.

[Kellymb75]

Sheree, Jodi took Arlyn a while ago and from what I remember they loved it. We've taken Morgan to the circus and when we were in Orlando last time we hit up Universal Studios and they have a Barney Live show there and she LOVED it. That was about a year ago even. We're getting ready to take her to see Disney on Ice next Wednesday and I know she'll enjoy that too.

I think Emerson would love it. It's not cheap though and then you get inside and they have all these cool things you'll want to buy that aren't cheap either, just remember there's gonna be a lot of temptation. Take your camera if you do go and get pictures, I know we'd all love to see him hanging out with Dora.

[jarm]

Wow, Kelly! You have an awesome memory! I took Arlyn to Dora's Pirate Adventure. She loved it! The only problem I had with it was how much it cost. But it held the kids attention. If he loves Dora and all her friends, he'll love it!

I have to say...oops! The package was supposed to go out today, but Ray ended up working a double and I just couldn't get my act together. It will definitely go out tomorrow, though. It should get there by the 15th even with my idiot delay.

[Kellymb75]

No worries about not getting the packages out right away. That's why I set the opening date to the 15th so we could have some "ooops" time. I know I need it since my package hasn't gone out either. I'm still in search of one last "perfect" item. I might just suck it up and go with something else but I'm really trying to find something quite specific that I have in mind, I just need to figure out if I can find it.

I remember stuff that isn't important to me. That said, of course I remember you took Arlyn and she had a good time. I also remembered how you talked about how expensive every little thing was, that's the case with just about anything you go to these days. They know how to sucker you into paying an outrageous price for something not even worth half the money usually.

[hisdaffodil]

*nods* They do. That said, I adore broadway productions and have gone to several. So far I've managed to get away without buying extras..... but when it comes to Em, I'm a little ahem... blind to cost, occasionally. ;)

[Dotsie]

I'm late sendign my packages out. They're going out today or tomorrow. Sorry:(

[kdevita]

me too! I'll join the late mailing club! Will go out tomorrow though!! :)

[jarm]

My package went out today. A huge thanks to my DH for getting it out for me.

[hisdaffodil]

Got my package today!! Cute wrapping paper, can't wait to open!!

[jarm]

I'm more excited about finding out who bought for who than anything else. What is wrong with me?

I took Arlyn today for her 2 1/2 yr. checkup. She was somewhere over 31 lbs. and over 35 inches. I don't know what the percentiles are. Arlyn doesn't look like a chunk, so I was quite surprised by her weight. Hmmm...must start getting healthier foods into her.

[Adrianna14]

Soooooo glad to hear I'm not the only late one!!! My package has been in my car with me, all ready to go, since Wednesday - but my work life has been CRAZY and I haven't been able to leave to go mail it. Wanted to today, but no such luck. :(

As others... mine will be going out tomorrow, too. thank goodness the post office is open Saturdays. :)

[Kellymb75]

Here's a link to a growth chart for girls from the CDC. IF I'm reading the chart right (which I might not be) it looks like Arlyn is in the 90th% for weight and the 50th% for height (with her being 35 inches tall). I'm sure she's just fine, if there was real concern I'm sure they would have said something.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41c022.pdf

[kdevita]

Do most of your kids get 2.5 year check ups? We dont go back until Aubrey is 3. Her last was when she turned 2. I thought that was too long inbetween. Do you all go back for 2.5? I havent a clue how much Aubrey weighs or how tall she is. I suppose I could weigh and measure her myself. Then Id have to buy a scale and find out how much I weigh too.. ACK!:)

[Kellymb75]

Karie, no we don't go back until Morgan is 3 either. It went from going all the time and then going a 6 month stretch between 18 months and 2 years to an annual stretch from here on out. I guess they figure that by the time they are 2 they will know if there is anything they really need to follow-up on all the time and we as parents have been doing it long enough now to know when we should call and bring them in with any concerns. Quite a bit of responsibility huh?

Last time I weighed Morgan (on my postal scale since we don't have a big one) she was 27lbs and some odd ounces and around 33 inches tall. She's on the small side but she's not tiny either. I'm sure all our kids are doing great and are right where they should be.

[Dotsie]

We don't go back until Aidan is 3 either. We did have to bring him in for a weight check because he doesn't eat great so he doesn't gain weight. He is 26-27 lbs now and he is 38 inches tall. He is my walking string bean. Just like his daddy. Sean is 6'3 and 200 lbs.

[Kellymb75]

Dorothy, how do you find pants to fit him?? I know I have trouble but wow, Aidan really is a string bean, no doubt!

[Dotsie]

Kelly, we have such issues with finding pants to fit him. Gap started putting out pants that have little tabs on each side so you can inscrease or decrease the waist size. Gymboree just started doing that as well. If it wasn't for that or a toddler sized belt I don't know what we would do. With sweatpants I have to fold down the waist to keep them up and even then it doesn't work. It's really frustrating because everything is geared toward a "chubby" toddler.

[clzj]

Dotise-Try Levis they have those also. My dad got them at Kohls. Target also have them in Cherokee and Levis. I have issues with Isaiah part is I don't want to be buy clothes every few months so I bought him 3t and some fall off so I look for either overalls or the ajustable waist pants.

[Dotsie]

Here are some pics of Aidan. I've been so horrible at posting pics lately. Here he is as Captain Hook for Halloween.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc22b3127cce95fa5b87161e00000016108AZtGLho2ZtQ

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc22b3127cce95fa592c16b400000015108AZtGLho2ZtQ

Here he is on Thanksgiving
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc22b3127cce95fa5669566e00000016108AZtGLho2ZtQ

Here he is tearing my family room apart with his cars/trucks
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc22b3127cce95fa5516168800000016108AZtGLho2ZtQ

[mom2amelia]

Wow, Dotsie, it's been a long time since I've seen pics of A. He's so handsome. Love the Cap'n Hook costume. What a cutie pie.


I apologize to my gift reciepient, but the gift still hasn't made it to the mailbox. Between trying to finish up at work, and the 15 inches of snow we got over the weekend, I haven't been able to get to the post office. Gift is in hand though, so that's a start. I think it'll still be there by the 15th. Again, I'm so sorry.

[Dotsie]

My gift will be sent tomorrow. I am so, so sorry. It will be there by the 15th.
Thanks for the compliments on Aidan.

[mommy2AlliWill]

Dorothy- He is so adorable!! Long time since I have seen him...we must plan to get together after the holidays!!

We don't go back to the ped for Alli until three years. Will goes Wednesday though for his 15 month...yikes!!

[mom2amelia]

To my gift recipient: My gift is going out today. I apologize for the delay. I also aplologize for the punctuation error on the card. I "commissioned" the card, but didn't actually assist in the preparation. Apparently, my nanny doesn't know that apostrophe S makes a word possessive, not plural. ;)

How's everyone doing? We have an insane amount of snow on the ground here. I'm not enjoying it one bit. I like snow, usually, but for some reason I'm just not at all into it this year. Probably because last year it snowed almost every day from Thanksgiving until mid-April, and so far this winter is looking to be the same. Plus, I can't find my boots anywhere. Grrrrrr.

Amelia isn't sleeping. I'm losing my mind. She's in a bed now and waking 3-4 times a night. Mostly to go potty, but I don't really think that's what's waking her. I think potty is an afterthought. Until 6 months ago she was a GREAT sleeper. All that has gone to hell in a handbasket and I am at my wit's end. I have no idea what to do to turn this around. If anyone has any thoughts, I am all ears.

[Wilsmom]

Just wanted to pop in and say Wil got a big box from Aubrey and Kdevita today! We can't wait to see what's in it, but we're holding out, at least until everyone else starts opening. :)

C, I responded at LJ, but I'm so sorry you're going through this sleeplessness with Amelia. I still think it has to do with your pregnancy.

Dorothy - Aidan is so cute! I hadn't seen pictures of him in a long time either. He's really grown up.

We haven't had a good snow yet, but it's sleeting and freezing raining here right now. Should be fun to drive on tomorrow morning. :rolleyes:

My big ultrasound is Dec. 21, and hopefully we'll find out what we're having this time. I'm starting to show now and in maternity pants, but not maternity shirts yet.

Wil is watching a video right now from TLC. High Five. Do you guys know about them? He absolutely loves them because he loves music. I'm getting pretty tired of watching this same video over and over.

[Kellymb75]

I guess I should say we got a package a few days ago from one of Morgan's "friends". The girl is obsessed with friends these days. She's very possessive and got very angry at me for mailing out her "friends" package without letting her put a picutre of herself in it and drawing her "friend" a picture. I had no clue she wanted to do that until it was too late so I'm guessing we might be sending another piece of mail to her "friend" because she seems so heartbroken over it.

[hisdaffodil]

Emerson's response to snow:

"S'Nooooo! White!" He touches it. "Eeeww, Yuck!" and now he won't go near it. Heh.

[jarm]

I taught Arlyn the snow dance last night, and she made it snow! What a great kid! Now I'm home today. Yippeee! But I have tons of things to do...report cards, shopping, etc. Yep, I think I'm giving up on going out to go shopping and just shopping online. I only have a few more to buy for. Should be fun.

Arlyn just amazes me. Last night I had an appointment at the OB's office so we stopped on the way home to grab her McDonald's. When I told her where we were going, she said, "Oh boy, Mommy." And the tone was just too precious. She heard the baby's heartbeat and she started to imitate it. And the most funny thing that she said last night, among several others...we had gone to Kohl's and a lady gave her a hologram that she had gotten from a cereal box. We're in the car like fifteen minutes later and she's telling us about how the lady gave her "this" and then she said, "Mommy, I can't believe it! She gave it to me." She was so excited! It cracked us up!

[Dotsie]

We received our gift today. Aidan had a complete fit until I opened the box. He then had a fit when he saw the penguin wrapping paper (loves penguins). I told him he could NOT open it up until Thrsday. I went upstairs for 2 seconds and he opened his gift:rolleyes: I did take a couple of pics but I am so sorry Aidan couldn't hold out. Thanks so much for his gift. It's already put together and he's playing with it. It's the perfect gift for him:D
My gift is going out today priority. It's not going far so it will get there quick like a bunny!!!

[hisdaffodil]

Our Christmas pic this year:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc30b3127cce95816e700fda00000036109AZOG7Vw0ac

Totally reflects their personalities so far. My calm relaxed little baby and my wild child.

As our gift-giver will note, I did open up the little package that was tucked in there for Jamie. It felt like clothing and he's such a porker I wanted to be sure I wouldn't need to exchange it. It fits great and was so adorable, I had to go ahead and let him in it. :) Thanks! I think he looks good in it.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc30b3127cce95816e140fbe00000025109AZOG7Vw0ac

Em's dying to open his, but I'm holding out on it. I'm scared once he figures out we want him to open a present, that he'll open all of 'em under the tree!!

[kdevita]

We received our package from Cyndi and Amelia!! THANK YOU! Aubrey is dying to open it but is waiting very patiently. We might give in tomorrow though! :)

Hisdaffodil: GREAT Christmas card photo! So cute especially since you said it explains your kids personalities so well!

[Dotsie]

Gift was NOT sent out yet. I am going to overnight it to my pollyana tomorrow. I am so sorry. I am going through a lot right now that I cannot get into. Please forgive me. I promise it will be there on Thursday.

[mom2amelia]

Sheree- I can't believe how grown up Emerson looks! Love, love, love your Christmas card. Jamie's a cutie pie.

Karie - whew, so glad it arrived!

We got our package yesterday from Kelly and Morgan. I, umm, I mean Amelia, can't wait to open it! THANKS!!!

[kdevita]

Cyndi-sorry for not posting sooner! I think we may have gotten it a little late because I had given out my new address thinking we'd be moved in for Christmas...unfortunately not the case, so we get over there every few days to check in. Cant wait to see whats inside the box!!!

[mrsschu]

isn't today the day we're supposed to open gifts? is today the 15th? i could be wrong. i don't know the dates these days.
anyway, i hope today's the day, and
THANK YOU, TANYA AND HUNTER!!!!!!
zoe LOVES her gifts, and i love mine!
hunter sent zoe a see 'n say with elmo's world. she loves it! he also sent her a CD of the little people. omg, she loves it (we've been listening to it while running around doing stuff). eek! i'm glad she loves it, but eek! for me! no, i'm kidding; it's cute. when we got home just now, she insisted on "watching the little people - on tv!" (we have a video she loves).
tanya also sent me a mommy gift! how sweet. i am so psyched - it's awesome cream/body products from the body shop. i love that stuff!
THANK YOU!!!!!!

hisdaffodil - those pictures are awesome! i'm so glad that little outfit fit. i couldn't resist!

dotsie - i'm sure your recipient understands; we all understand what being late, for whatever reasons, is like. i hope you're doing okay.

to the rest of you - open, open, open!!!

[Wilsmom]

OK, I just read mrsschu's post and ran to the bedroom to get Wil's present. He got a really cool alphabet and number puzzle, and some great winter shirts. Seriously, they are sooooo cute! I know they'll fit perfectly! Thanks so much kedevita and Aubrey! :D

His puzzle is matching a letter with a picture that starts with that letter. For example, sun for S. He has had fun matching the letters up. I scattered them around the floor, and he's looking at the first letter in sun and then finding the S piece. It's so neat to watch him put them together and he's so proud! What a perfect gift! (We haven't gotten into the numbers yet!)

[Kellymb75]

I suppose it's confession time. I let Morgan open her presents on Saturday because Kurt was going out of town and he wanted to see her open them.

Emerson (Sheree) went above and beyond. She got Dora and Boots bath time dolls, 6 nick jr books and an adorable lady bug backpack with a really cute ladybug hand puppet. They also sent a picture of Emerson coloring on a piece of paper and now Morgan is sure that picture he was drawing was for her and is on its way to her. She got so excited to see the picture and she carries it around and talks about her friend and says "it so nice of him, he loves me". Thank you Emerson and Sheree!! Those gifts were PERFECT!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/IMG_0397.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/IMG_0398.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/IMG_0399.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/IMG_0400.jpg

[Dotsie]

Alli is my gift recipient. She will have her gift by Saturday. I am so, so, so sorry that I am late. I have been going through a total rough patch with some things and sending the gifts slips my mind. The pathetic thing is the gifts are in my car wrapped and have been for weeks:o

[kdevita]

Suzanne-Glad you like the gifts! Aubrey has that same puzzle and loves it. She too gets soooo proud when she matches them up! I sometimes pretend I cant do it and she says "no mama, like this" and she'll put the right ones together. Its so cute and great to watch her little mind work! It was so fun picking out little boys clothes! (Obviously) I've never done it before! They had such cute stuff!

Kelly-those pics are soo cute! Morgan is still the little camera poser as always! Adorable!!

We cheated and opened ours last night! Thank you Cyndi and Amelia!! First off the painting Amelia did is sooo cute! Aubrey is a little confused that the presents were not from her friend Amelia at story hour. Hmm how do you explain that one. Anyway, she LOVES the alphabet puzzle loves to show me which letters go where. As soon as we opened the fishing magnet puzzle she got all excited and told me right away that it was the same one they have at school. She was JUST telling me this past Monday that she went fishing at school and she had had to share the fishing pole with 2 other children. She was thrilled to get her own!! We also got colored pencils and an alphabet writing pad. Each page has letters on it to trace. I admit a few pages now have some scribble on it but she does know how to draw a capital "A" so that page is quite filled up. THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! We love them all!

[kdevita]

and just want to drop off my Christmas card and wish you all a very happy Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza and anything else you may celebrate!
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc34b3127cce95b9b01d6d0600000016108AcuGTFu4btI

[mommy2AlliWill]

Dorothy- I meant to get in here sooner. I hope everything is okay. I figured Alli was Aiden's pollyanna since you said it wasn't going far;) Trust me that it is fine & when it gets here it gets here, Alli certainly is none the wiser.

Adorable pictures Kelly.

K- OHMIGOSH has Aubrey grown up too. I don't think I have seen a recent picture of her. Beautiful. Did you design those cards yourself? They are gorgeous.

[Kellymb75]

Dorothy, I knew Joann would understand, whatever is going on I hope it gets better soon. If you need to talk or vent or whatever we're here. You neglected to tell us what Aidan got, I'm dying to know since you said it was perfect for him. I can't even remember who sent him the present this year, I was lucky to remember who I was buying for.

Karie, Aubrey is gorgeous! OMG she has the most magical blue eyes, I've always thought they were gorgeous but that picture really shows how magical they look. I love your Christmas photos, they are always a little different but different in an awesome way.

So glad all the kids have loved the presents so far. I can't wait for Amelia to open her presents from Morgan. I bought one gift without Morgan's approval and she was mad at me, she told me so. She was very into buying the gifts and wrapping them and all that good stuff. I'm really loving how interactive she's become this holiday season, it's awesome.

[Dotsie]

Arlyn got Aidan a set of Geotrax. He has played with them nonstop since we put it together for him. He likes them so much that we have decided to get him a huge Geotrax set for Xmas instead of the Thomas the Tank Engine stuff.
I've been dealing with an absolute horrible real estate client. It's really bad because it's my best friend's brother and his wife. From the beginning it was bad. They stopped paying all of their bills after they were prequal'd for the mortgage so when it was time to get the mortgage commitment it couldn't be done because their credit score went down by a couple HUNDRED points. Things just went really down hill from there. The night before settlement I am informed that they are divorcing and will not be buying the house. That means my $2500 commision is not going to happen. Now they are suing the sellers to get their earnest money back and I am being dragged into it even though I am siding with the sellers because my clients completely breached the contract in more ways than one. This has just been a really bad couple of weeks. I am also in the middle of leaving the firm I was with and going with Coldwell Banker. That in and of itself is a huge headache...and a huge expenditure. It's going to cost about $700. I will get $300 back with my 1st sale but still.
Enough about me.
I received 2 Xmas cards in the past few days from 2 beautiful little girls. Morgan and Arlyn get prettier and prettier every time I see them.

[jarm]

Dorothy -- I'm so glad that Aidan loves the GeoTrax. I was trying to find some Thomas stuff, but was not able to. The GeoTrax looked really cool so I picked that up hoping he didn't have it.

We received our gift tonight, but unfortunately I was out and by the time I got home Arlyn was sleeping. We'll open it tomorrow (I'm hoping for a delay in the morning...it was sleeting on the way home tonight).

[mom2amelia]

Kdevita - I'm glad Aubrey liked the gifts. Amelia loves the Melissa and Doug puzzles, so I was hoping Aubrey did too. That Christmas card is out of this world. Wow. Aubrey is stunning, she's getting so big, and the card itself is beautiful.

Kelly - with all the chaos in my house these past few days, we haven't opened the package yet. It's killing me, but I can't open it up without her. Hopefully we can do it in the morning before I leave for MY LAST DAY OF WORK!

[Adrianna14]

Alli sent Hunter a Wiggles drum and a Wiggles CD... he loves them! As he was opening it, he was yelling "Wiggles"! I told him it was from Alli, and he looked at me and said "OH, Alli?" Then he kept saying "Alli did, Alli did it". :)Its his first official Wiggles toy, besides the videos and CDs that he has, of course. It was so cute... after he heard the drum singing and saw that he had a CD too, he was trying to put it in the drum like it was a CD player. :p He is reaaaallly into CD players and playing all his CDs. THANK YOU ALLI and JOANN! :)

Melissa ~ Glad that Zoe loves her gifts... Hunter loves that Little People CD and the Little People in general. He calls the Video we have "Cars", because the little people drive around in cars in it. Then he hops on his bike he has in the house and rides his "car", too. And, glad you liked your Body Shop stuff... I figured mom would like something, too... ;)

[mommy2AlliWill]

A- so glad Hunter liked his gifts. I picked up the same CD for Alli to get from Santa so I hope it is a good one.


I love reading all this. Chip & I are doing some final shopping for the kids tonight & I am getting lots of good ideas about what two year olds are loving this year!!

[hisdaffodil]

Emerson opened his gift last night and Loves it! He got the Leap Frog Fridge Farm, which I was just about to buy him for Christmas, but held off on for some reason! I like making the silly animals, but he corrects me and makes the right matches. Then he makes all the animal sounds with it. He particularly loves the purple cow. (I like the sheep duck myself. Whaddya call 'em? Shucks? )

We opened at my mom's, so the pics are on her computer, but I'll get them up later.

Kelly - So glad she liked her gifts!! I got some really great deals so was able to do more gifts. It was fun, I really hope she enjoys them! I'll have to get Em to do her up a picture and send it out. :)

Did you notice in the pic that he is left-handed????

How does a Righty teach a Lefty to do anything? help!

[clzj]

Sheere-you find a lefty to come over and help out. My parents had that with my brother but it was lefties teaching a righty. My aunt had to come over and help him with is writting.

[Kellymb75]

Sheree, no worries about her liking those gifts. That backpack has been going EVERYWHERE with us. She absolutely loves it. She has a giraffe one that's smaller and this one is bigger so she can fit more stuff in it so she's totally in love with it. She wants to take a bath so she can play with Dora and Boots and we've read each of those books at least a dozen times already. As a matter of fact 3 of them have been read this morning. She LOVED the wrapping paper too.

I didn't notice that he was left handed, I'll have to look at the picture again (if Morgan hasn't stashed it somewhere). She's taken control of the awesome Christmas card we got from you. She loves that Emerson is a big brother and has a little brother and he's the one that sent her presents. In her words "he like me mommy, he has baby brother, he so excited!". She cracks me up!

[jarm]

Arlyn got an awesome fleece outfit to keep her warm and some markers. She opened them this morning since I had a delay and didn't have to be to work until after 10. She wanted to use the markers right away, but I had to get in the shower and Ray had to iron for me. She says thank you to Nicolas (sorry if I spelled it wrong...I'm as sick and as tired as can be right now).

[kdevita]

Joan- Yes I did the cards myself. The perks of being a designer. :)
Thanks all for the compliments! I'm thrilled the way they came out.

Its so much fun hearing how all our kids are reacting to these great gifts! And like Joan said its nice to get all these ideas of what other toddlers like!

clzj-nice to see you. Hope you are doing well! Been thinking about you.

[hisdaffodil]

Kelly - that's so cute!

Wow look at Aubrey, so pretty!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc37b3127cce95a69235243000000016109AZOG7Vw0ac
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc37b3127cce95a69211241400000016109AZOG7Vw0ac

[Kellymb75]

Karie, I think I might need to beg and plead with you next year to help with our holiday cards, you do amazing work! Heck I might bug you about other things too, I'm sure that's all you need, someone bugging you about more stuff.:p

I'm really happy that everyone's kids are really enjoying the presents and the holiday season this year. This really is a magical year for them, they all seem to be very aware of what's going on and that's just so much fun to watch.

[jarm]

Hey all!

I am really feeling dragged down. I feel awful, I'm exhausted and my brilliant DH decided it was okay to put Arlyn down for a three hour nap this afternoon...this from the kid who rarely takes a nap because she doesn't go to bed when she naps. She's still awake at 9:30 and I'm just waiting for her to come running in at any second.

Tonight was fun! I was sitting on the couch coloring with her when she decided to head-butt me. She hit my head just right...I swear I have a concussion. But DH didn't sound concerned and just sent MIL over to take care of Arlyn. I can't even begin to tell you how much my head hurt. There's a nice bump, too. I did take some Tylenol, but it didn't help with the throbbing.

In baby news, can you believe that I'm practically halfway with the second one? I'll be 18 weeks tomorrow. We go for the 18 week u/s Tuesday, but we are not finding out the sex. I'm not even itching to know this time. Last time I was, but we still didn't find out. :) I can't wait to see my Peanut on the screen.

Other than that, things here are hectic as always. I'm in the midst of report cards (which are due Tuesday), trying to finish up holiday shopping, and I have to bake 9 dozen cookies this weekend for a cookie swap. 9 dozen cookies...that's a whole lot!

Hope all is well with everyone else. Enjoy your holidays! Enjoy your last weekend to shop for the holidays.

[Kellymb75]

Wow you're already 18 weeks Jodi?? Time sure is ticking along fast, everyone that is pregnant in this thread is further along then they are in my head. I include myself in that. I'm 30 weeks today. We're counting down in the single digits now, how crazy is that? I'm ready for this pregnancy to come to an end though. It's sad since we know we don't want any more and this will be my last pregnancy (knock on wood) but I'm just not enjoying it at all.

It's hard to believe we're nearing the end of 2005, our babies are going to be 3 in about 6 months or less, that's really unimaginable to me. They are all growing up far too fast. Of course they are all way too cute for words.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Kurt comes home tomorrow night and I cannot wait, this single parenting while pregnant is absolutely no fun and I NEED a break. Take care everyone!

[clzj]

Heres a pic of Isaiah with santa. He asked santa for a broken car. Which means he wants a car with its hood up.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce95aae7f96bc000000010108AZNWjZu5buE

[kdevita]

Thanks for the compliments Kelly. Feel free to "bug" me anytime!

I cant believe how far you pregos are along! Kelly I feel like you just annouced you were pg last week!

clzj-cute picture! Im so impressed with all the kiddies who were brave enough to sit on Santas lap!

Im in a fix. Aubrey has asked for a pink piano from Santa for a while now and of course I left it to the last minute and now I cant find it. I said to her what if Santa cant bring you a pink piano and she insisted he could and if he couldnt make one he had elves to make them. We discussed it for a good 5 whole minutes and she is CERTAIN he can bring her one. Eh oh.

[Wilsmom]

Just popping in to say that we found out today we're having a girl! We're really excited that we'll have one of each!

[kdevita]

YAY!! Congratulations!! Thats such exciting news! So happy for you! Will will be a great big brother!

[Dotsie]

Wilsmom ~ congrats on the baby girl!!! That's awesome.
Jody ~ I cannot believe how fast your pg is going. I hope your head feels better!
Kelly ~ I cannot believe you 30 weeks already :eek: I'm sure you don't feel like it's flying by but it is to me. Before you know it you'll have your baby boy in your arms.
Karie ~ Your Xmas cards are stunning. Good Luck on the pink piano thing. I haven't seen any around here.

Onto my news. I am pregnant:D I got my 2 bfp's this morning. I cannot believe that I'm having another baby. We are so excited. I found out at 10dpo with Aidan and here I am on 10dpo and of course I had to test. :p My EDD is 9/4/06. That's my dad's bday.

[Wilsmom]

CONGRATULATIONS DOTSIE!!! I have been checking up in here pretty often to hear this news! I'm so excited for you! :D

[Kellymb75]

Woohooo! Congrats Dorothy! What a great holiday gift you get this year! How exciting!

Suzanne you already know I'm thrilled to pieces for you. I'm serious about the girl stuff I still have, I need a place to take it and if you want it it is yours.

All us preggos seem to be moving along pretty fast this time for some reason. I guess it has to do with having a toddler to deal with as well. I'm guessing that I'll be holding my little guy in my arms in 8 weeks or less. I'm going to be optimistic and predict he will come before his due date but safely after the 37 week marker making him "full term". I think it would be fun to have a Valentine's Day baby. It would make party planning very easy in the beginning at least and it's a day most can't forget.

[kdevita]

Congratulations Dotsie!! How exciting! Im thrilled for you!
We found a pink piano!!! YAHOO! G's parents tracked one down in CT so we're going to pick it up tomorrow! Phew thank goodness!:D

[connorsmommy]

hey everyone!!!

I recently just started posting in the June 06 thread...had no idea that the AMJ 03 thread was resurected here!! :)

Nice to see some familiar names -- will catch up in here soon!! :)

[hisdaffodil]

Wow!

Dotsie - CONGRATS!!!!!!
Wils - Congrats to you too!!! I'm so jealous!!

Thank heavens Em hasn't made the santa = gifts connection yet so he hasn't asked for anything!

I am sooooo ready for Christmas!!! I am going to be totally useless at work today. Heh.

Merry Christmas to everyone, or whatever you celebrate! I prolly won't check on for a while. I'll be hanging out by the tree staking out presents. I'm more excited this year than when I was a kid! Heh.

[mommy2AlliWill]

Dorothy- Congrats!!! How exciting for you guys. My Will was born 9/3 so I can say truly it is a fabulous time of year to have a new baby.

Suzanne- Another huge congrats to you too, Wil is going to love his baby sister.

clzj- CUTE PIC!

Connorsmom- good to see you again too. Have I seen you on LJ? I'll have to friend you over there.

karie- Glad Aubrey is getting her pink piano, so adorable that she has something she wants to much.

Like Emerson, Alli doesn't make the Santa connection, thank goodness since she was with me when I bought 75% of her gifts.

We have big news in our house, Alli is officially potty trained. Well, pee trained, still pooping in her pull ups. Sort of crazy that she really trained herself. Just showed interest one day & has never gone back. Feeling very lucky because DH & I didn't need to really do anything. We are having issues with her going in public bathrooms (can a 2 year old know how gross they are;)? ) but I ordered a fold & go potty seat to throw in the dipaer bag, hoping that will help once we receive it. So Santa is bringing Alli panties & that is the most exciting thing about Christmas to her...cute.

Hope you all have a great holiday weekend. Can't wait to hear how all the two year olds make out.

[Kellymb75]

I can't believe that our kiddos are turning 3 in 2006 which is RIGHT around the corner. How has time flown by so much?

Woohoo for potty training! We aren't there yet, Morgan doesn't care about it so I refuse to push. I ask her if she needs to go but she always says no. She doesn't like having a wet diaper anymore so I'm guessing we're heading in the right direction at least.

Karen, good to see you around these parts. I noticed you on the June 06 thread the other day and was wondering if you'd venture in here or not.

Karie, so glad you were able to find that pink piano. I can't wait to hear about Aubrey's reaction. It sounds like she's going to be really excited but not a bit surprised since she has no doubts that Santa is in fact bringing her exactly what she wants.

Morgan understands that Santa brings gifts but she hasn't really asked for much of anything. She's just super excited about going to see Nana and she's convinced she's gonna get to build a snowman. My poor girl is going to be so disappointed when she realizes that all the snow nana told her about has long since melted. I've tried to tell her but she refuses to believe me.

I've become very detailed oriented about this Christmas. I really am so excited about all of it and it's all because I know Morgan gets it this year and the look on her face and her reaction will be priceless. Kurt even said he hasn't seen me this excited about the holidays ever and he proposed to me back in 1999 on Christmas morning so we have a BIG event to compare it to.

[connorsmommy]

momtoalliwill - sure thing! Please do friend me over at LJ - I'm connorsmommy there as well! :)

Kelly - As I'd hardly gone to WC in recent years, I had no idea that our a/m/j thread was resurected here! Now I'm REALLY going to have to stop working full time so that I can concentrate on catching up around here and on LJ! :)



Anyway, if anyone else is on LJ and wants to friend me there, please do go ahead! :) Nice to reconnect with old friends!

k

[jarm]

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah!

Just wanted to see how everyone's kids enjoyed their gift opening.

Arlyn hasn't completed opening gifts at MILs. There were too many gifts that she was totally overwhelmed. DH is annoyed with MIL, but she doesn't understand that she doesn't need to buy so much for Arlyn. And I hate to think about next year with two kids...oh gosh, anxiety attack just might be on its way.

[kdevita]

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!!

We had a great few days (multiple Christmases) and AUbrey LOVED her pink piano. SHe sits on the stool and plunks away singing Jingle Bells at the top of her lungs. I think the only reason she gets the Santa=gifts connections is because we asked her What do you want Santa to bring you for CHristmas? Otherwise she wouldnt know. Thank goodness its over though because shes terrified of Santa and the fact that he'd be coming to our house was really scary to her. She woke up last night screaming I dont want Santa to come!! Poor kid I had to calm her down and reassure her he wasnt coming and Christmas was over. I think the biggest hit though was the Little Tikes Art Easel she got from my sister and BIL. She LOVES it and really occupies her for a long time!

Connorsmommy-GLAD YOU FOUND US OVER HERE!!:)

GO ALLI! COngratulations on the potty training!! Thats fantastic and sooo great that you didnt even have to do much! We are in the same boat as Kelly here...not much interest. We ask and she says no. Im hoping one day (SOON) she turns the corner! I might buy her some pink and purple underwear as incentive. She loves to try mine on which is very funny to see because they are enormous on her!:D

Kelly-Hope you got some snow at Nana's house!

Hope to see some cute holiday pics in here soon!

[hisdaffodil]

Glad ya'll had a good Christmas!!

After all my excitement over him "getting" Christmas this year, it was a total flop. Him and DH both had the flu. DH started with it on Friday, Em started on Saturday. 102-103 fevers, vomit, body aches, the works. He was a screaming, crying mess the whole weekend. He could have cared less about presents. We got a few good openings in there, after Medicines kicked in, but if ANYTHING went wrong, no matter how small, he totally broke down. He wouldn't eat anything, all weekend. It was a mess. Plus with both of them sick, I wouldn't let them near Jamie, who was a premie and I was warned a trillion times before he left not to let anyone germy near him at all, even moreso than I would a full term. So DH and Em have been sleeping downstairs, while we sleep upstairs.

It wasn't a very merry Christmas at all.

We had a great morning yesterday, i got alll kinds of shopping done and felt so good. Then we went to look at some houses and ruined my high. Heh. I'd rather walk into a house and be like "oh yuck, not this one." But yesterday they were all like "ooooh, I like that, oooh I love that" then a whammy. One was totally perfect, but a bedroom and playroom short, but perfectly done, gorgeous tilework, gorgeous colors, nice yard, etc. One was just the right size, but we hated what was around it, the way it looked from the outside, and that the basement had no daylights. One was huge and roomy, gorgeous outside, beautiful kitchen, lots of space, right around the corner from a park, close to my mom, but is a Repo and being sold As-Is, which is with several problems.

*whines* So we're still looking. I want to take my time this time and find something right rather than leaping again.

Plus I'll be taking the realtor pre-license class next month, so maybe I'll learn something that can help us out!

Anywho, if I'm not back soon, Happy New Year!

[connorsmommy]

Hi everyone!


Kdevita - I remember you! I'm glad to have found this thread, too!! :) We're working on Baby2 right now and in a few weeks we hope to find out boy or girl...and if it's a girl, she'll be an Aubrey as well, which was our girl name from when we were pg with Connor! :)

[kdevita]

Are you serious?!?! Thats so funny because Connor was our #1 boy's name!
Connor James was the whole name we wanted to use and I have a funny feeling thats your Connor's middle name too? What a small world! How funny if you have a girl and our #2 is a boy!! (not working on it yet):D

If all goes according to our plan from the Fall, we should be TTC in 2 months!! AHHHHH!!! :D :eek:

[connorsmommy]

Are you serious?!?! Thats so funny because Connor was our #1 boy's name!
Connor James was the whole name we wanted to use and I have a funny feeling thats your Connor's middle name too? What a small world! How funny if you have a girl and our #2 is a boy!! (not working on it yet):D

If all goes according to our plan from the Fall, we should be TTC in 2 months!! AHHHHH!!! :D :eek:


LOL... totally serious here! In fact, I remember being a little pouty (to myself, of course!) that someone else in the thread was having a girl named Aubrey and I had soooo been wanting to use that name!

Close - Connor's middle name is Justin. Funny Connor story - Wade's step cousin had her third child just 8 weeks before Connor was born. One day, we received a phone call from Wade's uncle announcing that his grandchild Connor Douglas had been born. We had been keeping Connor's name a secret from everyone IRL, giving just the initials CJ. A few people in Wade's family had guessed Connor, but we didn't let on that they were correct. So when Connor Douglas was born, it was hard to keep our own name choice secret!! :)


This time our favourite baby names are:
Aubrey Jada (though we MIGHT go with Aubrey Deborah in honour of Wade's youngish step mom who passed away suddenly this past May)
Dawson Kyle

[QueensOverKings]

Checking in.... finally. :o

Hope you all had a great Christmas/holiday. :cool:

[clzj]

Stephanee-glad to see that you made it. I don't go to LJ so I need an update on Nicolas.

[kdevita]

Happy New Year to everyone! Hope you have a safe and fun evening.
I wish you all a fabulous 2006! Talk to ya next year!:D

[Kellymb75]

Happy New Year everyone!

Here's a quick belly shot I took today. I'll be 32 weeks tomorrow so I'm calling them my 32 week shots.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/belly32weeksidebare.jpg

[clzj]

Anyone having problems with their child hating the toliet? I put training pants on Isaiah and he has the blatter control but refuses to go on the big potty or the little potty. Help

[Dotsie]

Kelly ~ You look fabu!!
clzj ~ Aidan hates, hates, hates the potty. I'm gonna have the only kid still not potty trained in the 8th grade:mad: He knows when he has to go, he tells us afterwards. It's so annoying.

[clzj]

Dotsie-right with you on the potty.

[hisdaffodil]

I'm gonna have the only kid still not potty trained in the 8th grade

Oh no you won't. I'm already trying to figure out how to schedule trips out to change his diaper at school so the kids won't make fun of him. ;)

[jarm]

Well by age 8 they should be able to change their own diapers.

[kdevita]

Oh phew! I thought we were one of the few with no luck potty training! You all made my day! :D I have no idea if she has the bladder control. How can you tell?

Kelly-great belly shots!

I have to tell you that Aubrey can count to 10 in Spanish!! I can only assume she learned it in school becuase we dont have TV. We were driving home and G was half asleep and I was driving and Aubrey was talking to herself and all of a sudden I tuned in to what she was saying and she had counted to 10 in Spanish! I wacked G and said Did you hear that? and he said Am I dreaming? ha ha. I'll have to ask her teacher on Friday. It was so stinking cute though! She cant say quatro so she says fwa-fo but all the rest sound right! Ok it totally sounds like Im bragging...well OK I am!! I'm just so damm impressed!:D

[mommy2AlliWill]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Karie- until you said no tv I immediatly assumed Dora. That is where Alli learned all her spanish & it always surprises us. Too cute!

The potty stuff is crazy. Clzj I have no suggestion except that Alli hated the little potty too but she is fine with the potty seat that fits right on top of our regular toilet. We are still having no luck with poop issues here. I would love if Alli would at least tell us she has to poop so I could put a pull up in her but the child wants nothing to do with negotiating or bribes.:) Like Aiden she immediatly asks to be changed.

Here is what is great about potty training:
Less diapers (and we had two in diapers for 15 +months)
Less wipes
Alli's 2T pants were starting to get to flood stage & wearing panties gained her another 1/2 inch. I won't have to buy new pants quite yet.

BAD about potty training:
Alli gets up to pee every single night betweent 3 & 4
We had to go to the potty 4 times in an hour at the mall last week
Cleaning poopy panties is worse than cleaning poopy diapers.

I agree with Jodi too that any kids who isn't trained by 8 should have to change their own diapers:) I think age 8 is about when Alli will start eating again.

[Kellymb75]

No potty training/learning in this house! Morgan will have nothing to do with it. She is telling us to change her almost immediately after she wets her diaper. It doesn't matter what she's doing she is always saying "I think I pooping again" these days. That usually means wetting her diaper but it's as it is happening and I can't just jump up these days to run her to the bathroom. I'm not worried, if she trained/learned right now she'd likely regress with the new baby coming so soon. I'm in no hurry anyway, I like not having to take 4 trips to the bathroom in an hour trip to the mall (I feel for you Joann). I do like the idea of spending a lot less money on diapers though. Oh and let's not mention that she doesn't really fit on those pull down changing tables in restrooms anymore, that's always a challenge if her diaper needs to be changed while we are out.

[kdevita]

Just dusting off our thread here....anyone out there?

[jarm]

Still here. Nothing important to post about.

[Dotsie]

I"m here as well. In the throes of m/s.:rolleyes:

[jarm]

Okay, so I lied! I realized that I never posted about all the stress this new kid is putting us through. I've posted about it in my LJ so you might've read about it there.

I went for my 18wk u/s and they were concerned that the kid's foot was not straight, so they sent us to Yale for a Level II u/s. I didn't think anything of it from that first u/s, but when we went for the Level II, the idiot doctor made us really angry and stressed. He told us that while they could get straight images, they also got images where the leg looked crooked. They were at a loss, and basically told me that the next step would be amnio and that didn't guarantee any results in regards to the corrked images they kept seeing. It was totally strange!

Thank goodness our next check-up was the following day at the OB's office because we asked her about what they had seen and our concerns. She told us that if they could get straight images, there was probably nothing to be worried about and that they would check the report next time I came in, since they didn't have it yet.

As for Arlyn, she's a nut! Last night there was a mouse in our house and I called Ray to come home and try to find it and take care of it. Then Arlyn and I went out to dinner and all she could talk about to everyone she saw was how there was a mouse running behind the TV and the fish tank. Then she told me that the mouse had to go home to be with his mommy and daddy...I sure hope so. It's the second mouse in a week. We set a trap up and so far, nothing. Ray also blocked the holes from room to room so we're hoping that it's stuck in the walls or found a way out of here. I don't think so, though.

[connorsmommy]

hi!
Just checking in too!

Lots of stuff going on in my world this week.... spent several hours today at a home expo talking to people to get a better idea of putting in an addition (likely a 4-season sunroom) in our house.

Tomorrow, we have a Bryan Adams concert

Thursday, we have our big ultrasound and hope to find out if Baby2 is a boy or girl... And then later that day, we leave for our Hawaiian family vacation!! :)

Connor is doing great, and I think he's in a major growth spurt lately (he eats normal meals and then wants a 10-course night snack at bedtime. He's come down with a bit of a cold, but luckily, he doesn't know how to 'act' sick, so it hasn't been too bad. He's all revved up about Maui and can't wait to play in the sand on the beaches out there. :)

New baby has started kicking up a storm every day now (I'm 18 weeks), and I'm starting to get nervous about the whole raising TWO kids thing... I'm not sure I'm up to it...

[mommy2AlliWill]

Hey there! We have news, see my sig!! Shock is starting to wear off but the stress is a full time job. Not sure how we are going to swing this one financially but we will manage somehow.

I am trying to keep track of everyone else's EDD, so many preggos out there. I think Kelly is next, right, & then Cyndi?

[mom2amelia]

I'm around too. Nothing too exciting to report. I'm 31w and everything is going fine.

Amelia is a pill. She is so stubborn and headstrong, but really funny and sweet too. We are having a grand old time now that I am a full-time SAHM. I'm exhasuted beyond words though. Don't know if that's a SAHM thing or a pregnant thing, or a combo of the two, but I am wiped out. Rob is out-of-town for the next month, so I'm a single mom for the time being. We're watching a lot more TV than I really think is ok, but hopefully it won't turn her brain to mush.

Happy MLK Jr. Day all.

[Kellymb75]

Good Morning!

Yay, you came out here Joann! Congrats again, I know you and Chip will make it work, no doubt about that.

I do believe I am next, wow how did THAT happen? I'm 34w and some change and I believe Cyndi and I are exactly 3 weeks apart so anything is possible and who knows, she could go before me. I don't want to think like that because that probably means I'd be past my due date and that thought scares me to death.

Not too much going on here either, everything is pretty normal, well as normal as this pregnancy has gone for me. It's nothing like last time so normal this time is totally different and I'm not sure what is normal and what isn't.

I hope you all are doing well, I know that the majority of us in here are pregnant, take care of yourselves and remember to get some rest (somehow!).

[Dotsie]

Wow, I can't believe Kelly and Cyndi are due soon. I'm only 7w right now and I feel like I'm never going to get to my dd.
I've been feeling really ill and tired. With Aidan I got sick after 4pm. With this pg so far I'm sick from the moment I get up til the moment I go to sleep. Thank goodness for rice!! That's about the only thing I can stomach.
Aidan told us twice that he had to potty yesterday. He made it intime to use the potty too!! There's hope for us yet:rolleyes:

[kdevita]

Congrats Joann!! Like Kelly said Im sure it will all work out. It always does doesnt it...eventually anyway! :)

Kelly, wow you are next!! Thats so exciting!! Morgan must be very excited!

Dotsie I hope you feel better soon! Ugh that sounds awful! I had such an easy time with Aubrey I know Im going to get hammered with #2. Hope it passes quickly for you!

I have a questiion. Is it possible to get 2 BFNs and still be pg? AF was due yesterday and has not arrived and I've been having tingling and soreness in my boobs and I've noticed lots of pronounced veins in my chest, arms and boobs. I've never gotten the tingling before AF comes and Ive had it for about a week. I've had 2 BFNs though one at 9DPO and 1 at 14DPO. Im hoping I am but 2 BFNs are telling me theres no way and these symptoms are just a wacky concidence.
Ugh I hate this waiting because if I am I should stop drinking so much coffee and if Im not I dont want to stop drinking so much coffee. Ugh Im annoyed.
Ok sorry to vent!
Im sure I'll be back in 1 hour saying AF has arrived. Boo Hiss...

[Kellymb75]

I have a questiion. Is it possible to get 2 BFNs and still be pg? AF was due yesterday and has not arrived and I've been having tingling and soreness in my boobs and I've noticed lots of pronounced veins in my chest, arms and boobs. I've never gotten the tingling before AF comes and Ive had it for about a week. I've had 2 BFNs though one at 9DPO and 1 at 14DPO. Im hoping I am but 2 BFNs are telling me theres no way and these symptoms are just a wacky concidence.
Ugh I hate this waiting because if I am I should stop drinking so much coffee and if Im not I dont want to stop drinking so much coffee. Ugh Im annoyed.
Ok sorry to vent!
Im sure I'll be back in 1 hour saying AF has arrived. Boo Hiss...
Yes it is possible! It happened to me this time around. I took one super early and then took one at 15DPO (I think) and it was negative. I don't think I got my positive until 18DPO and I was totally in shock that it was positive. Don't give up until AF comes, she's the final say no doubt. You better come and update us as soon as you know something!

[kdevita]

Ooo I dont dare get my hopes up! I'll test again on Sunday if AF doesnt come first. Thanks Kelly! AHHHHHHH!!!

[Kellymb75]

I don't mean to get your hopes up, just wanted you to know it happened to me this time around. I was charting and everything. I never charted with Morgan and got my BFP my first test so it was definitely odd that it took so long to come up positive. We'll definitely hear something from you by Monday right???

[Kellymb75]

Karie, I just went back and looked at my LJ and it wasn't until 19DPO that I got my BFP this time, just wanted to be as accurate as possible so you know it isn't impossible to in fact be pregnant.

[kdevita]

Thanks Kelly for the accurate report! Still no AF! Yes you'll hear from me definately by Monday. I hope I counted right!

[mommy2AlliWill]

Karie- Hoping this is good news for you!! Would love to have another preggo around here.

[kdevita]

Damm AF arrived last night with a vengence. Stupid woman was 3 days late and then kicked my arse with the worst cramps I have ever had! Ugh. Well, here's to next month! :)

[Dotsie]

Karie, I'm sorry AF came. She's an evil hag!!! I hope February is your month. November is a great month to have a baby (I'm a scorpio):p

[Kellymb75]

Damm AF arrived last night with a vengence. Stupid woman was 3 days late and then kicked my arse with the worst cramps I have ever had! Ugh. Well, here's to next month! :)
What a witch! Crap! I'm sorry Karie, I hope she goes away soon and stops giving you such a hard time. Keep us updated in your TTC journey though, I hope you are knocked up soon.

[mommy2AlliWill]

Sorry Karie. Hopefully next month will be your turn:)

I am going crazy you guys. I would have considered Alli 100% potty trained one week ago & now all of a sudden she is not interested at all. I don't know whether I should ignore it or encourage her, bribery. Not sure what my next step is. It is no fun going back to changing wet pull ups all the time.

[Kellymb75]

I wish I had suggestions Joann but I'll be picking your brain when Morgan finally decides she really wants to try. I would think if you just ignore it and ask her from time to time if she needs to go that might work? I don't think you should push her because she'll probably be less receptive but perhaps reminding her frequently couldn't hurt?

[connorsmommy]

Hi everyone!

Aloha from Hawaii!!

What do you get when you have a 34 month old who won't nap...but wants to go full speed ahead on his Hawaiian vacation? You get a Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde. AKA. Connor. :)

Anyway, I just have ea couple of minutes... weather is great, but a bit rainy... but the ocean and everything is amazing. I'm learning how to snorkel...and that's been fun. It's just so beautiful here. Connor doesn't tollerate shopping very much, but I don't blame him too much. He just wants to play in the sun all the time. :) He already tells us that he doesn't want to go home -- he wants to stay in Maui. He'll be in for a rude awakening when we get home.

Anway, hope everyone is doing well.

I can log onto my LJ but can't access my FL or my own recent posts and I don't know why. So can someone e-mail me and tell me if Amy (twomidnightblues) had her baby yet? that is if someone here is on her FL as well. e-mail me at knmerrick@yahoo.ca. :)

thanks!

karen

[Kellymb75]

That's right Karen, tease us from Hawaii. :p That's okay we'll still be your friend as long as you don't get too good of a tan.

I emailed you about Amy, I'm not on her friends list but it was posted in 1 world so you should have that info now.


Since I of course can't not talk about me, I am pretty sure I just lost some of my mucus plug a little while ago. I know it can mean absolutely nothing but noteworthy nontheless.

[jarm]

I am having the same darn problem with LJ, but only on my laptop. I wonder if it has something to do with cookies or whatever. Ugh! So annoying!

[mrsschu]

hi, girls!!!
i'm glad i'm getting email notifications from here again; i hadn't checked in in a while.
it's good to hear from most of you. here's my update:
i'm pregnant! i got a BFP on saturday, told my OB on monday, and started heparin on tuesday. in case i didn't explain it all in here, after my second m/c last year, i had testing done and they found a probable clotting problem, so i have to take baby aspirin and heparin for at least the first trimester. hopefully this will prevent me from miscarrying. i'm very, very excited, and very, very nervous. it took us 7 months this time, and the 7th month, my OB put me on clomid (which i believe is what worked for me and my long/irregular cycles). who knows! she had given me clomid and told me to see an RE in a couple of months, but now i don't have to!

kdevita - sorry for AF, and i really hope next month is it for you.

my due date is october 2nd, but i believe i'd have to have a c-section at the end of september.
i can't believe i've finally joined those of you who are pregnant (and some are almost due!) right now; there seem to be a ton of you!

[Dotsie]

Congrats MRSSCHU!!! That is so awesome. COme join us in the September mommies thread. I'm there as well as Joann.
Kelly ~ You're getting close!! I never lost my plug with Aidan so I have no clue if that means if you're super close or not.

[mom2amelia]

karie - I'm so late getting in here, but I'm sorry that witch showed up at your door. I hope it's her last visit for awhile.

mrsschu WOO HOO!! I know what a struggle this was for you. Sending you truckloads of sticky vibes.

joann - I would totally let Alli take the lead. I don't know why she's backsliding, but she clearly know when she needs to go, and at some point that wet pull-up will be uncomfortable and she'll go back to using the potty. I'd do like Kelly said - ask her frequently if she needs to go, but don't push it.

[kdevita]

YAY Melissa!!! Im so happy to hear your news and so glad they figured out what the trouble was! Many congrats to you!!

Ooo Kelly!! Dont know what thats like either since I was induced, but it sounds pretty nasty! :D

[Kellymb75]

Now I'm not getting email notifications that there is activity in this thread. Very, very annoying!

Melissa, you know I'm thrilled beyond belief for you, Tim and Zoe. Please keep us updated as to how things are going. I hope the first trimester flies by with little to no trouble and you hit the 2nd trimester with flying colors!

How are all the rest of the preggos doing? I'm still here, just over 36 weeks and ready to have this kid whenever he's ready. I'm just so done with this pregnancy thing, we aren't having anymore and it's sad to feel this way with our last but I know that once he's here this pregnancy will seem like it was great.

I have to see a hematologist for those of you that don't know. I'm anemic and my doctor's office pretty much dropped the ball with me on the iron so now they are playing catch up. They are on our crap list to say the least. Anyway I have no idea what will go on with that appointment but it was suggested I might get shots of iron, who knows. Other then that I'm doing well and just tired and sore.

How are you all staying sane?? I ask this because Morgan is so obnoxious and sassy these days. She requires an explanation to everything/anything we tell her and then 9 out of 10 times she will openly disagree with what we say, doesn't matter what it is. It's so challenging. I am talked out today and would be happy if she didn't speak to me for the rest of the day. Oh and spitting, not sure when that happened but now she's all about making bubbles out of her saliva and then spitting them all over the place. The girl is really driving me nuts with this behavior. Please let tell me I'm not the only one dealing with this stuff.

[hisdaffodil]

Congrats Mrs. Schu!!!!

No spitting here, but definitely obnoxious. He has to be validated in everything. As in, I absolutely have to repeat everything he says, back to him, or he will nto stop staying whatever it is. So he'll be like "blue duck blue duck blue duck blue duck" until I say blue duck. Otherwise, he repeats it forever. Then after I say it, he goes on to something else, which I have to repeat.... I spend my entire evening repeating everything he says, I think. It's very annoying and tiresome.

Btw, I highly advise the Crayola washable crayons. This kid has suddenly decided to color everything. He did just fine on paper forever, btu all of a sudden, he's absolutely coloring the walls, cabinets, doors, floors, furniture, everything. The tv screen, computer monitor. You turn your back for a second, he somehow finds a crayon or pen or pencil somewhere and it's instant artwork. The washables wipe off with a wet wipe though.

A lot happening here, but I haven't got time to do a big update. I took my realtor's test and passed 1st time, so now I'm doing some education with the brokerage, while working full time, and noone else knows this yet really, but I'm now a single mom. So it's been hectic and busy and nuts, and oi.

Good luck prego's, hope to see some new babes soon! ;)

[mrsschu]

thank you all for your congrats. i only have a second and i am trying to figure out your last sentence, hisdaffodil - may i ask what that means? i don't mean to pry, but i'm worried now...let us know if/when you can.

[mom2amelia]

sheree - I hope everything is ok. I'm assuming that you and DH are apart for one reason or another. If you want to talk about it, you know we are all here for you. I can't imagine being a single mom of two young kids. I hope you have some help.

[hisdaffodil]

just a brief response.... mrs. schu - nothing really awful. He's still alive and all. I'm not sure exactly what to call us. Separated I guess. We're legally divorced, but we see each other every day, talk just as much as before, etc. He just couldn't handle the responsibilities of being a parent and husband (he's been having trouble with it for the last year or more and it just got to the point where we fought over it constantly). Then... I hate to say it but his surgery played a part too. His new disability was taking a large toll on the family too. I absolutely can't hear him, hardly at all. So we were always fighting because he says he told me something and I never heard him say anything. And when he does speak, he sounds so gruff and mean that it always makes Emerson cry, which upset all of us because it's not DH's fault!

So to be short, we decided to try this and see if it worked out better. So far, we've all been a lot happier. He did finally just decide to have a further surgery done that will attempt to restore some of his voice, so he'll try that this spring or summer. We're kind of approaching this with the attitude that we'll get back together. He gets his voice fixed and that'll solve a lot of our latest problems. I think him living on his own and finally being responsible to care for himself will help with some of the other issues we had (him acting like I should be his mom and do everything for him and not helping out) and him having the boys some should help with his responsibility issues. Plus we'll still be going to counseling.

Eh. I didn't mean to go into it that much. Sorry! I gotta get back to the kids! I have open house today and need to play their little hearts out beforehand.

[mrsschu]

wow, sheree, i'm sorry you've had all of that going on. i am glad to hear you guys seem to be doing well. maybe without the pressure of living together and everything that comes with it will make things better. good luck. keep us posted!

i have a pregnancy update; i'm copying from my lj:
i wish i had fabulous news. i had to spend over 2 hours at the doctor's office this morning; it was a mess in there. anyway, my sonogram showed a gestational sac, and a yolk sac, but no heartbeat. which could mean we're too early...they told me their dates and i told them mine, but it doesn't look too great. i know i could be off by a couple of days (and the yolk sac is a good sign; i didn't get that last time). but i'm not feeling positive, and my doctor wasn't too positive. she did a blood test for my pg levels, and we have to do another wednesday. they must double by then (i'm sure you all know this). then i have to have another sono a week from today.
so, i'm in limbo. i'm sorry to have to give you guys anything but great news. i will let you know as soon as i know more. i hope to have my dates wrong, but we just won't know anything until late wednesday. i'll be back later.

[kdevita]

Sheree, sorry to hear of all you are going through. I hope you are doing OK!

Melissa Im sorry to hear you are in limbo. You must be so frustrated. Fingers crossed for you!! Keep us posted. We're all here for you!

[mrsschu]

hi! here's my newest update (from yesterday):
i cannot believe it, but i have good news. my numbers look good! i knew we'd get today's blood test results today, so i was fully prepared to call my OB's office at 4:15 if they hadn't called yet (the lab said they get results back between 3-4), and at 3:25 my doctor called! after assuming for 2 days it would be bad, hearing her voice instead of her nurse's, i knew it would be bad. but nope! she said she's encouraged. my number went up to over 10,000. i asked if that was still good given that it had not doubled (it was 8000 monday), and she said it plateaus at a certain level and doesn't double every 48 hours anymore, it just goes up. i had read that yesterday, so it made sense. i'm in shock b/c i really was expecting the worst. she said there's no need to do another blood test; what's important now is monday's sonogram. if we don't see a heartbeat monday, that will be bad news (and then i'm sure they'll do another blood test to see if it's going down, etc). so, no miscarriage! not yet, anyway. i hate to follow it up w/that, but i can't help but still be nervous as hell. i'm scared to be as thrilled as i kind of feel.
about my doctor being awful the other day (i know i've bitched a little about it), she did say today that she and her nurse discussed that i had ovulated late (i thought i had told both of them, but maybe only the nurse), and it made her feel better about the sonogram the other day. now she said the numbers along with the sonogram (seeing the yolk sac but no hb) make more sense.
eek!

[kdevita]

YAHOOO Melissa!! That does sound encouraging!!
Go baby go baby go!!

[mrsschu]

i'm just going to copy what i wrote in my lj today:
we saw the heartbeat!!!!!!!!!!
i wish i could just say that. first of all, it was awesome, to finally see a heartbeat on an early sonogram. this is my umpteenth early sonogram (counting 2 miscarriages), and i've never gotten this. so, WHEW!
secondly, the heartbeat was 90 - low, but okay for this early. the gestational sac is measuring 5w5d. i asked if this is okay, given that 7 days ago, it was 5w0d. the sonogram tech (who was awesome - very nice and very informative) said yes, that's fine, b/c at this early a stage, 5 days can be a week b/c of how all this tiny stuff develops right now. here's the first time i'll say i hate how imperfect a science this is.
so, we were psyched, thinking i just conceived later than i thought (once again that my dates are off a little). also, this is a week after my last one, and there is a week's growth on the sono, and there is a heartbeat.
my OB even came in during the sonogram, saw the heartbeat, and gave me a high five. great.
tim was there, and we were very happy.
then we went to meet w/the OB. she said she's feeling like we need another sonogram in a week. yes, it's good there was a heartbeat, and yes, it's been a week and it has grown a week. but, according to her (and to me), the dates aren't perfect. she said she's superstitious, and she wants to wait until next week when we will hopefully see a week's growth and a faster heartbeat. then she'll feel great. great. i'd call that pessimistic, not superstitious. in the meantime, she didn't want to do my prenatal profile (blood test). very frustrating. she's waiting until next week.
tim and i left there so frustrated. tim was angry. i don't blame him. my OB does not have a good bedside manner, never has, and when i need her to, she doesn't come through. her high fiving me was the most excited i've ever seen her. it's too late to switch, but i'm frustrated w/her like i was last week.
here's one of my many questions. if they say the early sonograms do a great job at getting an accurate due date, why on earth is it possible that the sonogram's dates may be off a few days? i think one school of thought is it's the best way to get an early date, and the other is that this early may be too early to rely on an exact date. so i think that question is rhetorical. i don't know.
here's another question. anyone experience this, this early, and it kept getting better and everything was fine? actually, a bad outcome would be fine to hear, too.
last week, after our second blood test, which went well, tim convinced me to start thinking positively. he said he totally understood why i hadn't up until then, but that we should start, and keep thinking that way until something bad possibly happens. that's what i'm going to go with today, too. i had been, since he said that, and now i don't think i can handle thinking bad thoughts. i went in this morning VERY scared, but thinking positively. last monday, i was feeling very negative. now i'm going to continue w/the positive thoughts. it won't make me feel any worse if this turns out badly.

[kdevita]

HOORAY HOORAY!! In my head (Im at work) Im jumping up and down!! :D
I think being positive is great idea! It does affect your whole physical being as well so keep up the good thoughts!! Dang we have to wait a whole week to hear more good news! Im thrilled for you!! Go little bean go!!
:D

[Dotsie]

That is the best news!!! I hope next week's news is even better than today's:D

[mollymac]

mrsschu - I'm so happy to see even more good news. I don't know if you remember me from the WC but we were pregnant together on the A/M/J boards there.

I'm delurking here to say that I went through a similar situation. After a miscarriage and 12 months of trying for #2 I finally got pregnant again only to be told my first beta number was too low and that I should wait to miscarry. I begged my doctor to do another blood test and this time the count was much higher with a doubling time of I think 28 hours. So they decided to do an ultrasound - they found a gest sac and what they thought might be a yolk sac - but no heartbeat. And according to the doctor there should have been a heartbeat at that point. So we had to wait another week for a 2nd u/s. The 2nd u/s they did see a heartbeat but had similar concerns about the bpm.

Well I'm now sitting here typing this one day before my due date trying to do anything to get this little girl to cooperate and come out on Valentine's Day!! At first I felt so defeated by my doctor and his attitude about this pregnancy and my husband and I felt so discouraged and frustrated but we (or I should say my husband) decided we should be more positive and I finally gave in and became positive and upbeat about things too.

Good luck next week!

[kdevita]

Congratulations MollyMac! Good luck! Hope you get to meet a new sweetheart on Valentine's Day!!


Is anyone interested in doing a book exchange for the kids? I got a "chain letter" from a friend. If I decide to do it I need to send it to 6 people. You only buy 1 book and send it to the #1 child on the list. Your child is #2.
I told her I couldnt do it beccause I hate asking people but I thought I'd give it a whirl in here. No worries if no one's interested because she thinks Im not doing it anyway. Drop me an email if you are and I can give more details.
khdevita at yahoo dot com

[Kellymb75]

Happy Valentine's Day!!
This is a pretty big picture so I'm just going to put the link here but Morgan is quite the little ham and wanted me to share this with all her "friends". Happy Valentine's Day from Morgan! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/Project1.jpg)

I'm still pregnant and as far as I know nothing is really going on. On Friday I was about a fingertip dilated and soft but that means absolutely nothing. I'm thinking he's going to hold out and stay inside as long as he's allowed to.

Hope everyone else is doing well. Hope to hear more encouraging/happy pregnancy news from you guys soon!

[kdevita]

Kelly, Morgan is sooo pretty!! Definately a little superstar in the making!
Love the pics! Good luck to ya. Hope he comes out soon!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

[jarm]

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm doing an update on this pregnancy. Sorry...nothing new on Arlyn except she's 2. Bedtime has been an ongoing argument for us recently and it's stressing me out. I treasure my time to sit back and relax and either catch up on school work or catch up on the computer. Anyway...here's what I posted from my LJ.

Work started with a breakfast. It was yummy! The day went relatively well, too. Right after lunch, though, I got this really bad headache again. I have never had headaches so bad. In any event, one of the paras walked in and I mentioned the headaches to her and she questioned whether or not it was my BP. She sent me to the nurse's office to get my BP taken. It was high (for me). She wrote it down for me so if there was a problem tonight, I could call and let my doctor know. My head hasn't hurt since and Ray took my BP tonight and it was practically back to normal.

Ray picked me up after work and we went for the repeat Level II u/s. The indifferent news is that they are still getting straight and not straight images of the leg. The bad news...well, not bad, but the new concern (I swear that I need to stop going for u/s...a new issue comes up with each one I have) is that the abdomen is measuring small. So I will be back in 4 weeks for another Level II u/s.

[hisdaffodil]

quickie post, i haven't caught up yet.

does anyone know if a 2/3 year old could have OCD??? This kid goes around rearranging things like Monk. The other day he lined up 6 bottles of body wash, perfectly centered them on 6 coasters, right in the middle!, and moved them around till they were in a perfect formation, 2 rows of 3. Freaky.

[jarm]

I believe that OCD can shine through at any age. On the other hand, at this age they are exploring how to make things neat. It does say that it can start at preschool age. Here's a link! (https://www.ocfoundation.org/what-is-ocd.html?PHPSESSID=0d4dd884d402e622a62251a85d05ff7 b)

[kdevita]

Jodi-How frustrating for you! I hope you are feeling better and have had no repeat BP trouble. Keep us posted on your next u/s. Hope all the questions get cleared up for you.

Sheree-I dont know a thing about OCD, but Aubrey went through a period where she lined everything up perfectly. She would take all the carrots out of my moms fridge and line them all up on the bottom step of the stairs perfectly...same with all the bottles of condiments from the fridge door. She would do it with a lot of things very neatly. She also had to have all her bedtime friends in EXACTLY the same spot every night. She doesnt do the lining up thing anymore and has gotten over the bedtime things too. I chocked it up to toddler exploration and the fact that toddlers like consistency etc. She was and still is not a great sleeper so I think having all her things exactly the same way every night was comforting. Not saying he doesnt have OCD because I dont know anything about it but Ive heard a lot of little kids like to line things up that way. Worth checking with your ped if you're concerned though.

[hisdaffodil]

sounds normal then... thanks! He also does the pantry like that, all the soup cans and such

[jarm]

Hello all...I'm on vacation this week, and I am bored out of my mind. I don't know why, though. Could be that I was taken out of work last week because the BP issue was puzzling the doctor and she wanted me to take it easy to see if it would help. Luckily the tests came back fine and there's no sign of preeclempsia.

Arlyn has started this new thing and it is driving us up a wall. She will constantly squeeze our arms, legs...anything she can get her hands on. She will bite, hit, kick and so on. But the most annoying thing to me is the fact that she spits all the time. We're at a loss as to what to do. Ray is successful with putting her in time out, but she gets up and runs away so I end up sitting with her while she's in time out...pretty much holding her down. That's not working. We take her beloved hippo away, and that just frustrates her even more. Anyone else going through something like this or do I just have a violent child?

She also fights us tooth and nail on bedtime. That's the most stressful part of my day as I am usually flying solo at night. She will get out of bed 50 times. I finally threatened her with taking the beloved hippo away and she stayed in bed all night long. The other night, though, I did have to take hippo away for the night. Amazingly enough, she stayed in bed until morning without hippo.

She also had her first sleepover at Mema's. Because she'll be staying there while I'm in the hospital, we thought we needed to start that soon. In any event, she loved it so much that she can't wait to go back and sleep over again. I told Ray that maybe we could make it a weekly or biweekly Friday night thing. ;) Then I get some me time since Ray's at work.

Hope all is well with all of you ladies and all of your kiddos.

[Dotsie]

Oh Jody I hear you on the behaviour issues. Aidan is a complete terror. No matter what we do it just doesn't work. Time outs are a joke. We've tried taking his favorite toys away, etc. and nothing works. We've even spanked his hiney a few times and even that doesn't phase him. I bought a couple books last week about discipline and the strong willed child. Haven't had a chance to read it yet.
Hope everyone is feeling well. I wonder if Kelly is a mommy again yet. She's due around this time right?

[kdevita]

Ugh Im at my wits end too! Luckily no violence here but sleep issues up the WAZOOO!!! I think shes terrified of being alone in bed. She totally freaks out everytime we leave the room. I mean blood curdling screaming going on FOREVER!!! She screams so hard and so much she gags and chokes. MAMA! MAMA! Come here please!! Come back soon!! Help me help me!! It breaks my heart and drives me nuts at the same time. She wants us to stand there and hold her hand all night long. I dont know what to do. Last night I had my covers stuffed in my mouth and I was screaming in frustration. the worst part is shes had a cough for 3 weeks now, was on antibiotics for 10 days and its not any better and this just aggrevates it. I just cant take another night of this. We go through it every tiime she wakes up and realizes we're not in the room. Ok sorry just had to get that out. Im freaking exhausted!! DH is sick too and Im up to my eyeballs at work and I am just overloaded in all departments! ARGHHHH!! Im going to have a nervous breakdown!! Ok. Im fine now thanks. :o

[mrsschu]

i forgot to come in here the other day w/my bad news...i am miscarrying again. i hate to have more bad news, but i know lots of you would want to know. i'm having a D&C on friday. luckily, my mom happens to be here this week, and she's now staying until sunday. tim will take me to surgery. he's been awesome. i feel awful for him as well as myself.
i will be back soon. sorry to bring the thread down (and i do empathize w/all your toddler woes - we are having our own).
melissa

[Dotsie]

Oh Melissa, I'm so, so sorry. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[kdevita]

Melissa, I dont have the right words to say how sorry I am. You and Tim are in my thoughts. I am truly sorry.

[clzj]

Melissa-I don't know what to say and I have been there in away.

I came to stop by and say that my DH and I will not be starting to try in April. I just accepted a job with the Federal Air Marshells as their IT person. I start the job on 3/13/06. I can already see that 2006 is going to be better than 2005.

Has anyone heard from Kelly?

[Kellymb75]

Has anyone heard from Kelly?
I'm here! My official due date is tomorrow. Had a doctor's appointment this morning and everything is going smoothly. Blood pressure, urine, weight are all great. His heartbeat was steady in the 140's. I'm now 3cm dilated and I think fully effaced because she kept saying how low his head was and how she could feel my bags of water. I'm holding out for induction. We did schedule it for Friday, March 3 if he hasn't come by then. My OB's office will only let me go a week past my due date and since my due date is a Saturday we'll go forward with next Friday. I hope hope hope he decides to get this show moving sooner then that but if he doesn't he'll be in my arms at the latest a week from today!

Thanks for thinking of me! Hope everyone else is doing well.

[Kellymb75]

Just wanted to quickly check in and say hello. I'm still hugely pregnant and I'm becoming more and more okay with that. Friday is the absolute last day this can carry on. I can make it to Friday, no doubt about that at this point. I'm just anxious to get this done with and move on to recovery and newborn crazyness. I can't wait to get into some sort of routine with 2 kids, it probably won't be that great but something that makes some sort of sense will be nice. This constant waiting isn't something I do well.

[kdevita]

Well, its Friday!!! Hope you are doing well Kelly and your little guy is here or on his way! Hope to hear some news soon!!

[Wilsmom]

Kelly headed to the hospital late this afternoon for an induction, so I guess she's laboring right now! I wonder if Ben will make it tonight, or will he be a March 4th baby???

[mommy2AlliWill]

She updated in her LJ at 4 am that no baby yet, she was stalled at 8 & really waiting, hoping to avoid a c-section. Hope he is here by now though!! Poor Kelly, this baby is going to be a little devil his whole life;)

[mom2amelia]

BENJAMIN ROBERT IS HERE!!

He arrived at 7:54 via c-section. 9.5lbs, 20in. Mom and baby are doing great. I got a voicemail from Kurt, so those are the only details I know.

CONGRATULATIONS KELLY, KURT, AND MORGAN !! WELCOME BEN!!

[Wilsmom]

CONGRATS AGAIN, KELLY! (and Kurt and Morgan!) Welcome to the world, Ben! Take it easy on your Mama - you've put her through a lot already! ;)

[kdevita]

Congratulation Kelly Kurt and Morgan!! Boy he really didnt want to make an entrance huh? Hope you are doing well and we cant wait to hear all about it and see pics of your new little man!! HUGS and best wishes to you all!!

[hisdaffodil]

CONGRATS KELLY!!!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the new little guy!

[Kellymb75]

We're home from the hospital. It's been a wild ride. We got some bad news yesterday. They heard a heart murmur so they ordered an EKG and it turns out he has tetralogy of fallot which is going to require him to have open heart surgery when he is between 3 and 6 months old. I'm being paged, we have a hungry little guy....I'll be back later with more details.

Thank you all for the congratulations.

[Dotsie]

Welcome home Ben!! I'm so sorry to hear he'll have to have surgery. I'll keep him in my prayers.

[clzj]

Kelly-There is a girl over in the the Nov/Dec 2005 thread whose child had open heart surgery. I don't remember the users name because I have not been over there in a while because it was getting to hard for me to read about what my child should be doing. I went back and looked and the girl's screen name is first-time mom and her daugther had open heart surgery at just under 2 monthes old. Maybe you can talk with her about her experience with the open heart surgery.

[kdevita]

Kelly Im so sorry to hear Ben will need surgery! Let us know more details when you have a spare moment. I looked it up online but couldnt follow the medical terminology. You and Ben are in my thoughts.

[Kellymb75]

Just popping in to share a picture. This is from this morning.
http://static.flickr.com/38/112884709_2ba9a843c1.jpg?v=0

[Adrianna14]

He is beautiful Kelly!!! Soooo cute! :p

[kdevita]

What a handsome little guy! Love the pic!

[mommy2AlliWill]

FYI- Another AMJ toddler get a sibling!! Cyndi's Mom sent out an e-mail:

Phoebe Sara was born at 4:22 on March 17, 2006. 6 lbs, 9 ounces & 20”. Cyndi had a natural delivery, assisted by her DH and a doula. Amelia has seen her sister and can pronounce her name!! She is currently working on the spelling! Everyone is doing great!


Congrats to Amelia! Cyndi & husband too:)

[kdevita]

Hooray! Congratulations Cyndi and family! What a pretty name! Cant wait to see pics!

[Dotsie]

Kelly, Ben is adorable. I think he looks a lot like Morgan.
Congrats Cyndi and family. Welcome to the world Phoebe!!! :D

[Kellymb75]

Kelly Im so sorry to hear Ben will need surgery! Let us know more details when you have a spare moment. I looked it up online but couldnt follow the medical terminology. You and Ben are in my thoughts.
Ultimately a normal heart has the aorta bringing oxygen up through the lungs, unfortunately there is a hole between the left and right ventricles of Ben's heart and because of that the oxygen is going back and forth through those ventricles and the oxygen isn't pushing up through the aorta as it should be to give him the right amount of oxygen to his lungs. What the surgery will do is put a patch between the left and right ventricles which will make the oxygen go through the aorta properly. I think that's probably the easiest and best way to describe it. As I said, it's open heart surgery, he'll be put on bypass and everything, that's that's the scariest part of it all.

On a very happy note he had his two week check-up on Friday. Here are his stats.

He was born March 4, 2006 weighing 9lbs 40z and was 20 inches long.
At his two week check up (March 17, 2006 - actually one day shy of him being 2 weeks) he weighed 10lbs 40z and was 21 inches long.

He's growing like a weed and is looking great. We check his oxygen level everytime we go in and it was at 98% on Friday which is perfect for any baby. We have an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist on March 28 and hopefully we'll have even more answers then.

Oh and breastfeeding has been awesome this time around, so much easier and so great so even if you all didn't have a good breastfeeding relationship with your first don't get discouraged, it can turn out great with #2 or #3 or whatever number child you are on.

Congratulations Cyndi, Rob and Amelia!! Welcome to the world Phoebe!

[kdevita]

Thanks Kelly for the explanation! That definately makes more sense.Im so glad to hear Ben is doing so well! A whole pound in 2 weeks! Thats great! and Im even happier to hear that BF is going well. Thats one of my biggest concerns about having #2. I do NOT want to pump for 8 months again and am scared BF is going to be a nightmare again. You gave me some hope!! :)
Keep us posted when you see the ped cardiologist!

[Kellymb75]

Just wanted to quickly share a pic, sorry its so huge.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/kellymb1975/benandmorganannouncebW.jpg

[kdevita]

OMG Beautiful!! You must kiss those cheeks constantly!!!

[Kellymb75]

OMG Beautiful!! You must kiss those cheeks constantly!!!
The cheeks are constantly kissed, they are very kissable. Morgan adores Ben but refuses to kiss his head because he has hair on it, how funny is that?

[Dotsie]

Just wanted to pop in to say that I found out today that we're having another boy!! We're so happy. Hope everyone is doing well.

[Wilsmom]

Congratulations, Dotsie! Wow, another boy. How exciting that Aidan will have a brother to grow up with. I know you must be so happy! :)

[mrsschu]

congrats, dotsie! how exciting! how are you feeling?

mollymac - if you are still around, i feel awful b/c i never replied to your post. it was so sweet of you to tell your story and i'm so glad it was successful (and that you were successful). when you have a sec (easy for me to say!), let us know about your knew little one!

i hope everyone's doing well. i have to run but i'll try to post again tomorrow.

[connorsmommy]

congrats on boy #2 Dotsie! :) we're both going to be mom to to boys now!! (and I love your boy #2's name!!)

[Dotsie]

Thanks everyone. We are just thrilled. I knew from the start it would be a boy. There hasn't been a girl born to my DH's family in about 40 years. I'm feeling pretty good now. I was diagnosed with hyperemisis this time around so it was really, really rough for a while. I was put on zofran and it's working great. I am still down about 5 lbs from where I started but the dr's arent' concerned.
How is everyone else doing??

[connorsmommy]

Thanks everyone. We are just thrilled. I knew from the start it would be a boy. There hasn't been a girl born to my DH's family in about 40 years. I'm feeling pretty good now. I was diagnosed with hyperemisis this time around so it was really, really rough for a while. I was put on zofran and it's working great. I am still down about 5 lbs from where I started but the dr's arent' concerned.
How is everyone else doing??


Sounds just like MY Dh's family -- of all the males in his family (he has 4 uncles, 1 aunt), they ALL had only boys except for one - the youngest brother beat the odds, and the youngest cousin of DH's generation happens to be a girl (who was very much a tom boy growing up).

So although EVERYONE kept saying this one would be a girl (based on being a completely different pg than with Connor), I kept saying it's going to be a boy!



Me.... I'm miserable lately -- this pg is so different than with Connor. I'm totally not nauseous like back then. But physically, I'm falling apart. My hips are continuously going out of joint, the pubic bone pain I've had since January is getting worse all the time. And now, I think I've been having bad/frequent braxton hicks and thats starting to scare me, as I'm only 28.5 weeks.

But on the bright side, I finish work in 2 days and then will start my latest stint as a SAHM! :)


Oh, and since it's March 29, it also means that it was Connor's birthday today! My little boy turned THREE today! :)

[Kellymb75]

nak so please forgive any typos.....

Congratulations on having another boy Dorothy!! Aidan is sure to be a great big brother to his baby brother.

A belated happy birthday goes out to Connor....hope it was a fabulous day.

Let's not forget that today is Jackson's birthday.

[Dotsie]

Happy birthday Connor. Hope your day was awesome.
Happy birthday Jackson... you are always in my prayers. I hope you're doing well.
Thanks for the well wishes. I can't believe I'm going to be a mom to 2 boys. I love it. I'm not a girly girl so I was panicking about having a girl. Yay!!

[kdevita]

Congratualtions Dorothy!
Happy Birthday Connor and Jackson!

[jarm]

connorsmommy - I hear you on the pubic pain. Heat is supposed to help...didn't really help me as it seemed to make it worse. Also if you sleep with a pillow with your legs and keep your legs aligned as much as possible, it's supposed to help.

Happy birthday Connor! Happy birthday Jackson!

[hisdaffodil]

I'm an auntie! Sorta. My bestest friend just had her baby, a little girl named Mackenzie!

I'm so excited! I'm going back home in a few weeks, and I'll get to see her! I was hoping she'd have her near when I'd be there, not after!

Happy Bday Connor, Jackson! Congrats to the new little boys!! They're loads of fun!

Kelly - Glad ya'll are doing so well. Keep us updated on his heart condition.... It is absolutely terrifying to see your child hooked up to so many things. We're here for you!

[mom2amelia]

I am so far behind.

Dotsie - congratulations on your baby boy!

Happy Birthday to Connor and Jackson!

Sheree - congrats on becoming an "aunt." I hope your friend and her DD are doing well.

I can't believe I never came in here to announce the birth of my 2nd baby girl. Phoebe Sara made her appearance on March 17th (same birthday as Stephanee's Nicolas) at 4:28pm. She was 6lb, 9oz and 20inches. I had a great labor and delivery and other than some breastfeeding struggles, we are all doing great.

For your viewing pleasure:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/ckport/IMG_7911.jpg

[hisdaffodil]

Awwww! Congrats! What a cutie! And I love the name!

[kdevita]

OMG Shes a BEAUTY!!! Congratulation!!!

How is everyone doing??

[jarm]

So who's next to have their second kid? I know someone else is due like the same time I am...I just can't remember who. Darn pg brain!

[connorsmommy]

So who's next to have their second kid? I know someone