Adventures in Parenting

New picture

2008-05-27T10:17:00.001-04:00

of little JT

Yabbo Dabba...damn!

2008-05-26T12:06:00.007-04:00

Posted by Zephra

Seems like I will be doing the posting around here for a little while so if you are so inclined, come over to my place Chronicles of an Exhausted Mom. Get to know me a little better. I am way cool...or so my son's friends keep telling me.

Let's play a little guessing game shall we?

Which picture is which? Fred Flintstones or Val's?

I know, it is hard to tell. She has high blood pressure from something, we just don't know what. How about another picture of the baby?

Everyone say awwwwwwwww

Look what I made!!!

2008-05-23T09:27:00.006-04:00

Posted by Val's Sister Zephra

Val's best friend Susan called this morning to let me know that Jayden had been born at 8:11 am. He weighs 7 pounds 11 ounces and is healthy and beautiful. My Sister is doing well and I know she would be so happy to see her comment section crazy crowded so come on people and say a welcome to Jayden.

I was just sent a picture of him. He is so cute and I think looks like Terrell.

I also got a picture of the beautiful, proud, Mommy: Please remember she just gave birth and has no makeup on...and has not been able to shave either.

I am so proud of you Sis and i love you.

It's J day!

2008-05-23T03:25:00.004-04:00

Well as you can tell from the time on this post I can't sleep anymore. Damn half an ambien didn't do it for me sis. I am a bit nervous you know with the whole cutting me open part but other than that I am calm. I can't believe in a few short hours I am going to be a Mom again. Crazy stuff I tell ya. Wish I had a laptop to bring to the hospital with me, what will I do without the internet for 4 days? I will be home on Tuesday and I promise to update with pictures then. My sis will be on later will stats and such. WOOHOO I am having a baby!

Last Dr. Appointment

2008-05-21T13:16:00.002-04:00

OK so today was my final appointment with Dr. D. All is good as usual. I have gained 20 pounds this pregnancy. The least I have ever gained while pregnant. Jayden is measuring at 40 weeks, heartbeat was around 150. Blood pressure normal. He did check me just in case and I am STILL 1cm. So everything is all set for Friday morning. My sister will post to the blog sometime Friday to let you all know what is going on but no pictures until I get home Tuesday. I am sure I will be blogging before I go but just in case I don't I want to thank you all for the awesome support you have given me through this journey.

Fun

2008-05-19T14:08:00.001-04:00

Fun with washable markers

Our Weekend

2008-05-19T09:10:00.002-04:00

This weekend was nice and relaxing. On Saturday we really just hung out at home. We did take on trip into the outside world to Stop and Shop. I decided I really wanted Tony to make homemade pizzas. Well what should have been a quick $20 trip turned into a $50 trip. Why is that always the way?
On Sunday we got up early and I suggested we take T over to the big park so he could ride his bike. It was beautiful out and we stayed for about 1½ hours before my bladder demanded we come home. After that Tony went out for a bit and T and I spent some Mommy and me time together. We went to the park across the street and walked around and looked at flowers. It was really nice. I am trying to spend extra time with him right now because I know his whole world is going to change this week. I have been telling him over and over even after brother comes he is still my special little guy and if he needs a hug or a cuddle all he has to do is ask. I am hoping it will sink in for him. I think it is working a bit because at 2am he needed a mommy cuddle. I offered to go in his bed and let him cuddle daddy but he said no he needed me! So cute sometimes I swear.
Today we are off to his school for class picture day. I am hoping this goes quick because honestly his school is the last place I feel like going today.
I have a question for all you Mom's out there. Thursday we have school however it is the day before brother will be here. Do you think I should keep him out of school and do something special with him or just have a special dinner after school? I want our last night as a family of 3 to be special for him and me. Oh god pregnancy hormones are here, I am tearing up just typing this. 4 days to go!

FYI

2008-05-17T07:45:00.002-04:00

I am still pregnant and starting to think I will make it until my section next Friday. I have tried the sex, nipple stimulation and walking. Not working but oh well. My back hurts like there are a million little men stabbing me with knifes. I sleep about 90 minutes at a time before I need to pee and the heartburn is killer. This boy better have hair! On the plus side though I am having a baby sometime in the next 6 days!!!!

37.4 week appointment

2008-05-14T14:08:00.004-04:00

Well I gained 1 pound. So I think I am back to 19 pounds total? Jayden's heart rate was around 150 as usual, I am measuring 40 weeks. Still only 1 cm dilated and effaced 60%. No signs that this baby wants to come out any time soon. So looks like I will be pregnant for at least another week. I got to ask all my 1000 questions that I never got to ask with Terrell and I am at easy. I wish he was coming sooner but hey I can do 9 more days right? NST on Friday and another on Tuesday as well as my pre admission testing then doctor on Wednesday and baby on Friday. Unless of course he wants to come sooner which would be fine with me.

NST and Oil

2008-05-13T14:03:00.003-04:00

My NST today was text book normal. No contractions while on the monitor. Doctor appointment tomorrow morning at 10am. I will be begging to have the baby early. my sister said to try crying so I might have to bring on the tears. Hopefully Monday or this Friday. Pray for me.

Each time we are at the hospital Terrell likes to stop at the chapel and say a prayer. Today was no different. We walk into the chapel and I asked him what he wanted to pray for. He said Mommy I want to pray that the Celtic's win. LOL God I love this kid. So he prayed for a Celtic win and to god bless his family and a healthy baby brother.

So it seems the people from Texas who read my blog have no idea about the whole oil for the house thing. We have Gas for my stove that we pay for. However our building is heated by home oil. It also heats the hot water tank so no oil no hot water or heat. It is a weird New England thing I think because I had never heard of it before I moved here. Not really sure how it all works but it is big business around here. I am hoping when we move to a house that we do not get oil heat. I want good old fashioned gas.

Not Yet

2008-05-12T13:44:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to quickly post and let you all know I have not had Jayden yet. He is very comfy in my tummy it seems. Mother's day was nice right until the mother of all migraines hit me. After that it was horrible. Now I am waiting for the hot water tank to heat back up so I can finally take a freaking shower! Seems the landlord let us run out of oil, no oil no hot water. Then they oil guy took all day getting here to prime the tank etc. I just want a shower!!!! Ok done whining for now. Anyway 11 days to go!

Done

2008-05-09T08:21:00.003-04:00

A list of the things that are done.

house is clean except for sweeping and mopping kitchen floor, hubby gets to do that
laundry is being finished up today
pedicure is done
sheets changed
bottles washed and sterilized

So this now means Jayden is welcome to join us at any time. Of course this means I will go to my section date in 2 weeks as well just because I am ready. I did have a few very painful contractions last night but once again they petered out. I have noticed that I am a bit more irritable too. I am sure Tony and T just love that. I overheard Tony tell T don't worry Mommy is just tired of being pregnant she does not mean to be a grouch. I'm glad he understands. Now that all that is done what am I going to do today???

2008-05-08T10:29:00.001-04:00

Ok I am sitting here on the computer when I should be cleaning. Terrell and his buddy are sitting next to me playing army guys. I love boys. I am getting off the computer now and I am going to go clean something!

Almost 37 week appointment

2008-05-07T14:17:00.002-04:00

Well I am officially done with work now. I am so very happy. Now I just need to get my house together before I go into labor. Where the hell is my nesting instinct? I need it to kick in soon. I lost another pound, so now a total weight gain of 18 pounds. I am measuring 39 weeks but his head is so very low. It is putting a lot of pressure in my vajay jay. Heart rate is as always in the 150's. I go back next Wednesday. They took blood today to again check my platelet count. If it is to low I will have to be knocked out for my C section as it is dangerous to place a spinal with a low count. It is something to do with the Heparin. So that is what is going on here.

Fenway in pictures

2008-05-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

The green monster

Tony, Terrell and John

Aren't we cute?

Terrell so excited!

36 Weeks!

Take me out

2008-05-04T10:55:00.001-04:00

We are taking Terrell to his very first baseball game. He is so cute all decked out in his Red Sox gear. He is bouncing off the walls and can not wait to get to Fenway. I will post pictures later.

36 weeks

2008-05-03T12:45:00.002-04:00

My little floating baby over on my sidebar informs me that I am 36 weeks pregnant today. 20 days until my C Section and I am not yet ready. The bottles are not washed or sterilized. The blanket he will be coming home with still needs to go in the wash and my suitcase sits unpacked. What does all this mean? Friday will be my last day at work. I am hoping after that to finish up the few things that still need to be done. Tony will be installing the car seats soon I hope or I am going to freak out!!!! I am so very tired now. I lay about on the couch like a big slug, I feel sorry for poor T who had to beg for a bath this morning because mommy was too tired. Oh well soon I will be a zombie and it will all be good in the hood again. When exactly is my nesting going to kick in??

Registering

2008-05-01T12:21:00.001-04:00

Well I did it. I registered Terrell for kindergarten in the fall. I can not believe that my baby is going to go to school full time come September 4th. He was so cute when we went to register, we were the only ones there and he told the ladies this is gonna me my school. LOL He is excited.

35.4 appointment

2008-04-30T13:38:00.002-04:00

Doctor appointment went great. I lost 2 pounds, so a total gain of 19 pounds so far. Did my Group B Strep test today and I asked him for an internal. He could not believe I asked for it but I need to know what is going on in there. I am still 1 CM like I was at 27 weeks. Baby is still high too. I measured at 36/37 weeks, so doc thinks Jayden has dropped a bit. I don't feel it but he is the expert. I did ask him to start me back on my Zoloft again because I can feel the old feeling creeping back in, I am hoping this way to avoid the baby blues and PPD. Next week I start NST's 2x a week. So that means I will be doing something baby related 3 times a week until this kid is born. I did ask for an estimated weight for J and he thinks no more than 7 pounds or so. This makes me so very happy.

Stressful NST

2008-04-28T15:53:00.002-04:00

I went for my last weekly non stress test today. Let me tell you it was anything but non stress. Jayden was showing no accelerations at all. We tried everything to get this kid moving but he was having no part in it. Finally the nurse tells me I need to go for an ultrasound. Sure once she tells me that this kid is all over the place moving and grooving. Joanne was wicked nice though and still let me have the U/S. I mean how can you dangle a ultrasound over a 35 weeks pregnant woman and then take it away right? Ultrasound tech was not very nice, no pictures and no estimate on weight either. In fact she kept trying to tell me my due date was 5/29 based on my first ultrasound at the hospital when I was 16 weeks. I said thats fine but I know when this baby was conceived and my due date. She then told me maybe I ovulated earlier this time, I then threw the this is an ART/ IVF baby we know when he was made thank you very much. That shut her up pretty quick. Anyway Jayden is fine and scored and 8 out of 8 on his BPP ultrasound. We see the doctor on Wednesday and then start NST's 2x a week next week.

Adventures in Tude!

2008-04-27T18:59:00.003-04:00

My boy has a problem. He has lost his mind lately. I swear you would think I was dealing with a 16 year old girl not a 5 year old boy. He gets so mad that he growls at you. He told me he hated me a few times but I put a stop to that real fast. He rolls his eyes, say no to us constantly, he is just not the sweet little boy he once was. Now I know part of this is being 5 and part the jealousy of the soon to be baby but for the love of god if he does not knock this shit off he will not make it to 6. We try time out doesn't really work for him, we take things away and it is only a temporary solution. On the few occasions we spank he turns around and looks at you and says that did not hurt me. Girls I am at my wits end with him. I do not want to be the mean hateful scary mom and I need some advice on what else to try with him before I go crazy.

34W 4D appointment

2008-04-24T09:27:00.002-04:00

So I had the doctor yesterday. My blood pressure is back to normal, it was only slightly elevated the last 2 times. I did not ask how much weight I gained. My doctor did come in the room and said I really popped. I told ahh so you are a comedian now too? He measured me and I am measuring are you ready for it? 38 weeks. So like 3½ weeks ahead. No freaking wonder I am so uncomfortable! He was ready to pull me from work but I said one more week. I am really going to try and work until the 10th though. I still believe Jayden will be coming early, UGH I hope so I can't sleep, I can't breathe and I pee all the time. Regardless I know I will have a sweet little boy here in 29 days. Sis wanted a picture so here I am in all my big belly glory!

The Talk

2008-04-23T08:37:00.002-04:00

The husband and I finally had a very long hard talk yesterday after T went to school. I called him and basically said you need to tell me what the hell is going on in your life because I can not take it anymore. I once again explained how he is hurting me and how I will not put up with it. I reminded him the kind of home I grew up in and that I would not allow my boys to grow up like that. I cried, he cried, I yelled, he listened, we talked. I mean really talked. He agrees that he has a problem, he does not think he is an alcoholic but you know what fine you don't have to think it just get help. He has agreed that he has been drinking way to much lately. I told him I know when you are drinking even when I am at work. After 10 years I can tell. He pretty much admitted every since we got the positive back on the pregnancy test he has been slowly freaking out. Even though this baby was very much planned for it put him into a tailspin. You were right Sis something else was going on. He told me how scared he is about having 2 kids and whether or not he is going to be able to care for them etc. I talked to him about how I need his support and how I feel like I am in the pregnancy all alone. I talked about how he has hurt me and how it has made my love for him lessen. He cried then, he said he loves me and his kids with all his heart and that he knew he was hurting me but did not know how to stop. He now knows I mean business, I told him in no uncertain terms I will not live with an alcoholic and if he chooses drinking over his family than so be it. My husband knows I will leave because I did once before in the beginning of our marriage. Yes it would be hard but I would do anything in my power to save my children from a life like I had growing up. Hey sis you were right about the incident at the park too, he totally did that to set me off, he admitted it. Jane asked if he knew about this blog, the answer is no he has no idea and I plan to keep it that way. We are going to find someone to talk to and we are going to work on our marriage. I would hate to throw 10 years out the window without a fight so I will fight for this marriage but with that being said I am still making back up plans to leave if I need too. Thank you all for your kind words and advice it means alot to me that people care.

A bad place

2008-04-22T08:48:00.002-04:00

That is where I am right now. My marriage is falling apart. Those are not pregnancy hormones talking either. Trust me being 8½ months pregnant is the only thing keeping me in this house. My husband is a alcoholic. He is never physically abusive to me but he hurts me just the same. He is very much a mental and emotional abuser. I know I need to go but right now I have to figure out a way to do that with a 5 year old and a soon to be newborn. I could just hop on a plane to Texas and be with my sister but I know he would fight me tooth and nail to get his kids. I am very seriously thinking of calling his father and mother and just letting it all out. I need them to understand that I tried. I really did but I can't do this anymore. I am just tired. I almost bought tickets to Dallas yesterday but I know I need to be here so the doctor can monitor the end of my pregnancy. I would be to scared going to a new state with doctors I don't know and who don't know my history. How did this happen to me? He was suppose to love me not hate me. How did my life turn into such a mess?

Ghosts

2008-04-17T10:53:00.002-04:00

I grew up in a haunted house, go ahead laugh and scoff. I know and my sister knows it is the truth. I remember my real mom telling me once that she hated when Dad worked nights and would keep me and my sister downstairs with her while we all slept because you could hear people walking and moving furniture upstairs. After Dad and she divorced and he remarried I would be left home to babysit, I remember hearing footsteps on the stairs but no one was there. Plus you would just have feelings that someone was around you. The basement was the only part of the house that scared the crap out of me though. Did it scare you to sis? Our washer and dryer was down there, guess who did the laundry? Yup me, I remember I would go down there and sing Jesus loves me to keep myself calm. I just know in my heart there was something bad down there. Keep in mind we lived in an old old house. The woman who owned it before us was born and died in that house. Well one day we were playing around and stuff and I remember my baby sis went down to the basement. She came up the stairs like the devil was on her tail. She said something was after her. All she could see were red eyes coming at her. I have never forgotten that. I am 100% positive that the lady that lived there protected her from whatever was after her. Years later Zephra told me her and baby sis played with an Ouji board and the old lady said she was protecting us. I sure wish she could have protected us from the abuse but at least she kept the bad ghosts away. I wonder if the people who live there now know the house is haunted?