Baptism

Brett was baptized on Sunday.

Here are a few pics from the day. The gown is from Steve's family - circ. 1914.

Funny Brett Pictures

I've collected a few silly pics of Brett over the past week or so...

Firsts of all, Brett is total squirmer in his sleep. You can put him in the middle of his bed and over the course of the night he'll migrate to one side or the other.... or he'll completely turn around. We tried to put him in an "inclined to sleep" sleeper and that was a bad idea. He would squirm down to the barriers and I was afraid he'd suffocate himself. So, we've tried the sleep sack. It's better... it mostly keeps him on his back, but he still finds a way to move around.

Here's a pic of Brett in his "studly" onesie. The shirt says it all...

And, finally, B-man will occasionally sleep with his arms folded, and sometimes it's pretty funny. I think he wants to be a gangsta when he grows up. This one is my favorite...

Yes, I am your classic new mom

So, it's been 5 1/2 weeks since Brett was born and I am finally starting to feel like myself again. With the exception of a few rough days here and there (for example, on Tuesday ALL Brett did was eat and I didn't even get a shower until 8 pm!) things are good. I've started back on the treadmill and I've lost 30 pounds since pregnancy (alot was having the baby and water loss). Now I've got another 25 or so to go and the scale doesn't seem like it wants to budge! But, hey, I had a baby. I have an excuse. I know it won't come off overnight, I've just got to keep working out and trying to eat well.

Brett is growing like a weed! Except for our jaundace problem, everything has gone well. He is much more alert and is starting to develop his own unique personality. I am starting to understand his cries and we are getting a sleeping schedule sort of down. He's not perfect but is doing pretty well. He'll wake up once between 2:30-3:30 to eat, but otherwise he sleeps pretty well.

I've still got things I want to do. I need to get birth annoucements out (sorry everyone) and get ready for his baptism, but I'm working on it. My house is starting to get in order... I even got to do laundry today (hooray). I've still got another 5 weeks to enjoy Brett at home before I have to go to work again. I have no idea what that will be like. I feel like my life is completely different right now and I have no sense of time or day.... Once again I apologize for my lack of blogging. Hopefully as I am re-gaining control of my life I'll start writing more frequently.

Anyway, I've attached the latest pics of the Brett-man... he is starting to loose his blonde locks and is getting chubbier (I compared him to a middle aged man, but MUCH cuter).... enjoy!

Bathtime is FUN time!

The shirt says it all...

Bleary-eyed blog

I know. I disappeared off of this site for almost a month! That's what having a baby will do to you! Lots of lack of sleep and trying to keep up with life while having a newborn around is a challenge.

But I am here, and Brett is here with us now!

Where I left off.... I was going to be induced. So, that Sunday night I was admitted to the hospital and they started me on some IV's and whatnot trying to get labor going. I managed to sleep somewhat through the night. Not too bad until about 10:00 the next morning when the doctor broke my water and they really got it going. I had never been in so much pain in my life. I couldn't even talk, hardly able to breathe. FINALLY, the got the epidural going around noon ( I had to wait for like 45 minutes.. the WORST 45 minutes in my life). And, for the most part I was okay. Pushing really took it's toll on me. It was not easy, but finally at 7:28 p.m., Brett entered the world, and our world has since changed forever.

So, we've been home with the little guy for almost 3 weeks now! He started by not sleeping at all through the night. Since then, he's adjusted for the most part. Although, he didn't sleep at all last night and mommy and daddy are really tired today.

Brett was born at 37 weeks, so he immediately had a problem with jaundace (his liver wasn't mature enough). He had a lot of bilirubin in his system and we had to work on getting it out. So, at the end of our first week, we had to spend another 2 days in the hospital, while Brett spent time under bili lights. That was hard. He had to have his eyes covered for like 30 hours and constant blood work and we couldn't hold him. I was sooo glad when they released him.

Otherwise, we've just been learning how to be parents, with Brett's help. He eats alot, makes a lot of dirty diapers and sleeps alot. I can't wait until he's more interactive, but I also know I'll miss him being so small.

So, I'll try to update more often on here now that we've gotten life figured out a little better... but for now here are some pics of our new little man!

So - This Is It!

Since yesterday morning I feel like my life has kicked into overdrive.

(And, BTW- yes we got our new computer in... the timing couldn't have been better!)

To catch up, I went to the doctor last Friday (the 5th) and she told me that I was developing pre eclampsia and put me on bed rest. At that point just my blood pressure was high, and I was retaining water. So I went home and rested. Tuesday I had an ultrasound and doc visit and things really hadn't changed. Yesterday, well, things changed.

The first thing they always do is have you pee in a cup and check all of your levels. I was reading high in protein (which is very very bad). This means that my pre eclampsia had become elevated during the week and now I was getting into dangerous territory.

So, the doctor checked me out (still high blood pressure and all) and determined that she would need to induce. Since I'm almost full term (I hit 37 weeks on Sunday), Brett should be okay. Okay... I figured I'd go early. I'd predicted 4-20 as his due date! But still I wasn't quite prepared THIS early. I explained that my baby shower was the 12th (today) and she thought that we could probably induce tomorrow night (the 13th). BUT - they were getting pretty full and if she couldn't get me in Sunday she was going for Friday. Yeah, literally. She would induce me THAT VERY NIGHT. Okay, trying not to freak out here...

She then put a fetal monitor on me and monitored Brett's heartbeat for about 1/2 an hour. Everything checked out okay and she sent me home - letting me know she'd call and let me know what the plan would be.

I then proceeded to call my poor hubby who very quickly wrapped up his work day and got home (and I honestly feel bad - he's got a really busy week next week and he having someone cover it all for him now). I called my mom who was getting ready to put the shower on hold if needed, too.

Then, at around 3:00 the doc called and let me know we were a "go" for Sunday. THANK GOD! I've never in my life treasured 2 extra days than I do right now! So, we took a breath and went out to dinner.. probably our last one as a DINK couple. I figured we might as well, since it would be forever until we got to do it again.

So, the shower is today and then hopefully it's a mad dash to set everything up, launder the new clothes, make a last minute Babies R Us run and finish packing my bag. Oh, and "get a good night's sleep tonight" according to the doc. I am hoping I can. I'm going to have to make Steve do a lot of this stuff for me anyway, since I really shouldn't be very active right now.

Plus, it is going to be a long and drawn out labor... I am not even dialated, and it will take awhile for it to happen. And, because of this, my chance for a C-section has risen to 40%. So, we'll see what will happen. At this point, what will be will be. It's out of my hands now!

MIA

Just a quick update....

I have been MIA from the internet since Friday, and the only reason I have access is because I am using it at my parents house.

Kind of sad, because I have so much more to blog about before my baby is born! I'm still on bedrest so it's not like I get out much.

Our computer officially died last Monday and we thought "no big deal". Well, no big deal for Steve, but since I've been away from work I haven't had access to anything except for through my mobile phone! It sucks. And, I can't blog on this site through the internet on my phone!

So, our new computer should arrive the week of April 20th... we ordered it from Dell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will come before then.

Otherwise, unless I visit my parents again, this might be the last time I get to blog in awhile :(. I'll try, though, really. So, keep checking back!

Updates with the baby... we had another ultrasound on Tuesday morning. He is so big it's amazing. I don't have the pics to post right now but he's a little chunk with lots of hair. They estimate him to be around 6 lbs 11 oz (give or take a lb). So, I'm guessing he's about 7 lbs right now.

We're excited, and needless to say... especially since I'm so landlocked, I'm ready to have this baby!

Maybe I should submit this to a scientific journal

This is another blog that I wrote almost 2 years ago, and I just had to re-visit it today after the New Kids announced on the Today show that they were back together, releasing an album and going on tour.....

Once again, it has nothing to do with pregnancy, but who cares?



This may be the most insightful ground breaking theory ever written in a blog.

Or it may be the worst.

My money is on the latter… but it's still a fun idea.

So, ever since the girlfriends I've grown up with have picked their husbands (and well, I guess the men had some input here too), I started to develop a theory about why they chose who they chose.

Keep in mind, these are girlfriends I've known since the beginning of time (or at least since first grade or so).

I call it "The NKOTB Principle".

Yes, you can stop blushing if you already know what NKOTB stands for. (And, on a side note, why oh why is everyone my age so embarrassed to say they liked the group… we were kids for heavens sakes when they were popular, we didn't need bands with great musical ability or insightful lyrics to love when we were like 11).

Basically, I think that around the time we were all in 5th grade, when the New Kids became popular, it coincided with the moment we realized that boys weren't icky… they were actually - dare I say it, cute?

So, my friend "J" (names have been changed to protect the innocent) had a thing for Donnie.. he was her favorite New Kid. Later on into jr. high and high school she had a thing for "bad boys", and ended up marrying a stocky sandy haired guy.

My friend, "T" loved Joey (as did like 90% of the girls at my grade school) and ended up marrying her high school sweetheart, who was a genuinely nice guy and had kind of a baby face.

I, on the other hand loved Jordan. I had posters plastered all over my wall of the beautiful and sexy Jordan Knight. I was going to be the mother of his children, but um, that kind of, um, changed. No, my husband may not be a clone of Jordan (and, sorry honey, really, if you are reading this and you are embarrassed), but he is tall dark and handsome with olive skin and dark eyes.

Steve will probably kill me for posting this, but come on.. you have to admit there is a similarity here!

I probably have other examples. Maybe pure coincidence? But, I wonder if there is some ounce of truth to this whole crazy idea.

It doesn't always go as planned

So, I just got back from the doc. I had gone Tuesday and they were concerned about my blood pressure so they needed me to come back in today. After unsuccessfully lowering my blood pressure, they let me know that I am pre-eclamptic and I need to take it easy until I have the baby.

I was planning on working until the 18th. I WANTED to work until my due date, but I've been so exhausted I figured the 18th was good. Now, this is my last day. Kind of trippy, I know. Luckily, I have been pre-planning things, so I kind of have things together, but I need to spend today getting all of my ducks in a row. Because I won't be back until June 30th!

It sounds though like they may induce early if needed. My doc actually doesn't think I'll make it to my shower (on the 12th). Which is kind of crazy. Right now I'm close to 36 weeks, so I'm ALMOST full term. Man, next week I could be a mommy! Crazy, huh?

Well, I am planning on taking it easy and staying off my feet and just hoping that I can make it to my shower. Actually, our schedule would work out fine if Brett comes on the 18th or later, because my shower's the 12th and then we meet the pediatrican on the 17th. But, as I learned today, it's not on my schedule.

So, I guess we just wait and see....

Losing my DINK status

DINK = dual income, no kids.

That's been Steve's and my status for almost 6 years now. Granted, we've gone through some patchy times, where he's been in grad school and I've been unemployed, but we've still made it work.

Since about 2004, when Steve was officially out of grad school and we bought our house, things have looked pretty good for us. We both have had good jobs with good pay. We are able to pay all of our bills with no problems, and enjoy eating out a few times a week. We also have been able to purchase new cars recently, as well as enjoy a couple of cruises.

Now, by no means are we rich (I don't want anyone to think I'm using this blog just to talk about how well off we are) ... we are just "comfortable".

And, we have certain freedoms. Like, if we decide we want to go somewhere last minute, it's not a problem. Aside from making sure the kennel can take our dogs, we can usually finagle it. Or, if someone calls and wants to know if we can do something that same night, it's normally okay.

Any moment now, this is all going to change.

And, I don't know how it's going to be. I'm actually a bit frightened to tell the truth.

Not that Steve and I go out a lot per se, but I am losing this option almost entirely. Honestly, I don't see how we are going to be able to go out, even if we can find a babysitter. I imagine we'll be too exhausted. Plus, Brett is going to be so small at first that I don't know how I'll feel about leaving him, even for a short time.

And, finances are totally changing. We've actually been a lot more frugal over the past 6 months or so, saving up for me to take maternity leave. I've requested 12 weeks off, and I plan on taking them! However, these are UNPAID weeks, so we've had to save every spare penny.

But, here's the thing... even though we've been frugal, we've still enjoyed eating out and running to Starbucks and not questioning random purchases on our weekly Meijer runs. I know, it's sort of sick in some ways. We need to reign EVERYTHING in, and I have a feeling that it will kind of happen automatically whether we like it or now.

So, here's "goodbye" to our DINK status. I hope that it's worth it. I know it has to be, because I know parents who have sacrificed a lot when they had kids and they wouldn't change a thing. I just haven't quite been on "the other side" yet. Soon, I'm hoping this will all make sense!

Childbirth Classes, and why I (heart) Stork Parking

So, in my last blog I mentioned that Steve and I were taking childbirth classes. My doctor recommended taking them through the hospital (Community North if anyone cares) when we first found out we were pregnant. So, way back in November we signed up for March classes. It seemed like forever before they got here, but for the past 3 Wednesday nights (and we have one more this Wednesday), we have been educated on the whole childbirth experience.

I've been kind of a bookworm during the pregnancy. I've read like 10 books about the experience, so it's not like I had no education on the subject. But still, classes can be a little overwhelming/frightening.

Take class #1. Basically it was all about labor and delivery. Now I've sort of read about labor and delivery (but honestly, I haven't read all that far ahead of where I am in the pregnancy), so when the very well educated nurse zipped through everything I wondered if I had absorbed it all. I know that we covered timing of contractions, but I'm still not sure what the "formula" is.. I think it's 5..1..1. But, I don't quite know how that breaks down. I think Steve got that part. Anyway, and then every week we seem to watch a childbirth video. And, note, they don't show attractive Katherine Heigl giving birth... they seem to pick (how should I put this) couples who wouldn't be anywhere near People's 50 most beautiful list. I, who under normal circumstances, is of average size would be mortified to have anyone filming me during childbirth. Maybe if I'd tack on 100 pounds to my frame I'd be less inhibited? I don't know, but these women sure don't seem to care!

Anyway, so the second class was a little better. It went over pain management. We learned the breathing (which I'm still a little confused about, but I guess I'll figure it out once I'm in extreme pain), and the best part of the whole thing....massage techniques. This part right here is worth the $70 enrollment fee. Steve learned some awesome backrub techniques, as well as how to massage my hands and feet. And, trust me, I've made him practice waaayyy before the onset of labor :). I do plan on getting the epidural however (and especially if I might require a C-section), so that's how I plan to get through most of it.

Third class led us through a tour of the maternity suites. I was pretty impressed. Community North just opened up their brand new maternity ward less than a year ago, and the rooms are more like hotel rooms than hospital rooms (see below). And, in addition, there's a living area attached which has a couch that pulls out to a bed (for Steve) as well as a refrigerator, microwave, extra chairs, 2 plasma tv's, etc. And, as long as you don't have a C-section or emergency surgery, you deliver your baby in the same room. How cool is that? Anyway, it seems so swank... I'm a little afraid to get the hospital bill :(.

Last class is this Wednesday... we go over post-birth. This will be probably the best class for me. What do you do with the kid when they come home? I don't know! And, in fact, it's probably been at least 10 years since I've changed a diaper. I've definitely got a lot to learn. Steve and I aren't kid people, so we really have to figure this all out.

Finally, I have to end this blog with what might be the greatest thing for pregnant women. Stork Parking. Only offered at Babies R Us, unfortunately, but it is amazing! It got me thinking, why don't more places offer this option? Like, we were at Meijer yesterday and I was asking Steve why we couldn't use Stork Parking. A parking lot like that is huge, and when you are waddling, it is a chore to get to the door! These are things that I think more places need to consider. And, in fact, they can limit it to women in their third trimester. I didn't really "need" it until recently. I've seen handicapped people dart out of their cars much faster than I can these days.

Just something to think about. But, really, if you are pregnant, check out the Babies R Us Stork Parking. It's just about the best thing since sliced bread.