Boarded the Pregnancy Train. . .

I Guess I Am A Redneck Cook

2011-11-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am always looking for ideas on what to feed my picky children. If I had my way I would eat gourmet meals but grew tired of the chants of "ewww gross!". So I get a book on family meals and almost every one of the meals looks gross. I look online for healthy family meals and again everything looks disgusting. I guess I prefer the fake redneck food.

Part of it comes from the fact I had a meat and potatoes dad and four brothers who would protest worse than any of those occupiers on Wall Street if my mother dared to serve us "health foods". Organic food crap didn't exist, no seafood (I didn't discover that was a good thing until Prom Night), and squash and pumpkin were forbidden. I remember a certain relative throwing a fit over eating zucchini when I was real small. (I will let you guess who it was!)

Part of it is because in my family we were taught to question everything. I think that is why one of us got into nutrition and the other is a scientist. This has saved us many times. When it seemed that everyone was telling us to buy a house the market was hot, we questioned it, did research and decided that it was a false market and that eventually prices would crash. We were proven correct. Organic food is the same way. We researched it and discovered a lot of it was based on crap. Most of it was even political and can be traced back to pre-WWII Germany. (Not by the NAZI's though some in the organic movement became NAZI's)

So I am reading this book about healthy dinners for kids and the entire time feel sorry for the kids in these families. I also wonder if the moms really feed their kids McDonald's.

Every recipe had organic veggies, ground turkey, turkey or vegetarian sausage. The vegetables were steamed plain. Everything was whole wheat this or that and I am sorry but whole wheat noodles are gross. I CAN eat those things and even love tofu but my kids aren't going to eat it and I've tried and tried but they just don't make good family meals. A good meal must savor every sense. It must have a combination of bitter, sweet, salty, sour, and savory. (umami) I lot of those "healthy meals" skipped out on "savory". (oh and East Asians add fishy but that could count as umami I guess.)

To me a good family meal is a hearty loving meal with flavor that feels the belly and warms the soul. My favorite family meals from my own home weren't salad or healthy low-fat versions of good food but the warm full meals. My favorite meals were country vegetables (our vegetarian night), barbecue chicken, and ranch style hash which was basically beef and rice. I loved stew and my mother's turkey and dressing. When I talk about these meals with women I have literally seen their noses sneer at me as if I said I ate roasted racoons.

A savory meal can be healthy as long as you don't eat 5 helpings of it. None of my kids are overweight and all of them are healthy. I freak out so much that I have the doctor check on them to make sure they are getting enough nutrients. They always pass. So there is nothing bad about feeding your kids foods with flavor and no need to torture them with bland health foods. Even the vegetarian Indian dishes are full of flavor!

Post Partum Illness

2006-09-28T21:48:00.000-07:00

The main reason why I was unable to write is because I caught a terrible cold. It was one of those colds that last for two weeks. It started with a sore throat, then chills, then a runny nose, and finally the worst part, the cough. The cough part lasts the longest unfortunately. So, I was exhausted from staying up all night with my newborn, sore from just giving birth, and hacking my lungs out all at the same time. I didn't get out much. I think of it as God's way of making me slow down and recover from child birth.

Just as the coughing was beginning to stop, I caught the stomach virus. I did not throw up, but had trouble the other way if you know what I mean. Then my son sat in my bed one morning crying and then threw up right next to me. My husband happened to be at the gym. I think I had three hours sleep the night before being up with Aron. I gave up by then. Cleaned up my two year old, washed my sheets, then back to my feeding, burping, pooping routine with my newborn. My poor little two year old was sick for three days. Then my daughter kept complaining about a lot of spit in her mouth. Two minutes later she was running to the bathroom to throw up. She was sick for four days and missed preschool.

Finally, we got through all of the illness. I went to the mall three days in a row and had the most fun I've had in a year. I hung out with my three kids. I really enjoyed spending time with them and realize that having three kids is such a blessing. With each child your love grows bigger, for love never runs out. You can have 10 kids and your heart will grow big enough for each one. I love having my three kids and have no regrets. The nine months of pain was worth it.

Birth Story

2006-09-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sorry it took a while to write again in my blog!! I took a maternity leave!

At about 9 PM my parents arrived to stay the night at my house to watch my older kids. It was difficult to go to sleep that night. I was scheduled to be induced at 5AM. I was also not allowed to take any medicine so I knew I would have a hard time going to sleep. At 10 PM I ate my last meal, chicken stir fry and talked to my parents until 11 PM. I then laid in the bed until I fell asleep. At 4:30 I woke up to go to the bathroom and then got ready to go.

At 4:45 AM my husband woke up and then we left to go to my scheduled inducement. It was strange driving so early in the morning. The construction workers were out fixing the road and there was no traffic. Only the Steak N Shake was open.

We finally arrived on time at 5AM. The nurses started my anti-biotics for the Strep immediately. My contractions were good but were not in any order. I went to sleep until 7AM when they began the pitocin.

At first the contractions were small and I could talk through them with no problem. My mother arrived soon after and we watched the boring news about the cops catching the polygamist, Warren Jeffs.

They gave me more pitocin and finally at 10:30 AM the contractions were strong. They came every two and a half minutes. I did ok, except I was real hungry suddenly. All I could think about was food. I think my blood sugar fell as well because I began to feel faint. I wanted to eat, but at the same time I felt so nauseous. I started to feel dizzy and weak. That is when the nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. I went ahead and got one.

Getting the epidural was painful because I was having a contraction at the same time I was getting the epidural. I didn't feel the instant relief afterwards either that I normally felt. I still felt my contractions and was still in pain, even feeling when I was getting examined. I also felt a lot of pressure but it was not the head coming out. In fact, I was not dilated much. Because I felt too much pain I got another epidural.

The epidural was TOO strong. I could not feel my legs at all. In the past, I could feel my legs a little bit, enough to hold them up by myself when giving birth. This time my legs were dead weight. They felt like fleshy bags. It was a horrible feeling. I felt more and more weak and nauseous and my blood pressure dropped extremely low. I felt like passing out and I almost threw up. Right about then at 2:40 PM I went up to 10 centimeters. I only had to push a couple of times and at 2:49 PM I finally gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, Aron Bek who was 8 pounds 1 ounce and 21 inches.

He is beautiful, with a full head of black hair and dark skin. We think his eyes may be blue but we are not sure yet.

The first thing I did after giving birth was order some food. It felt so GOOD to eat. I was unable to move my legs well until the next morning.

My two older kids were happy to see their brother and we haven't had any problems. Jon Jon was upset that I wasn't at home for three days but that was all.

Is Pitocin Really that Bad?

2006-08-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday is the day I will be induced. I will go into the hospital at 5AM. I will be induced using pitocin.

This will be my third time being induced using pitocin. I was induced with my daughter because I was overdue and was not contracting properly on my own. I was also not dilating. My water broke with my son at 38 weeks. I never started labor, so I was given pitocin to start the labor and had my son a few hours later.

As I wrote before, pitocin is really oxytocin, a hormone that your body naturally creates when in labor, or when having an orgasm.

I have heard many horror stories about pitocin. I know that everybody responds differently to the hormone. Some people have terrible labors with little rest between contractions. Some do not have strong enough contractions. I have heard about women given pitocin that had labor for two days and talked through most of their contractions.

My experience so far has not been bad. It regulated my contractions better and really helped me start my labor. Both times I used it, I had my babies after 6 hours. The only problem I had with my daughter was a reaction to pain medication I took. The experience with my son was easy. The contractions did not get too bad until after three hours. I was given an epidural 45 minutes later.

Some interesting articles:
Pitocin:Friend or Foe
Pitocin-Does it Increase Pain?

Please share your induction stories!!

Oxytocin and Natural Labor Inducement

2006-08-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Oxytocin is a hormone released during labor. It has many uses:

1. Causes milk to be "let down" when nursing
2. Causes uterine contractions and cervix dilation. It also causes those painful cramps when you nurse your baby the first week or so.
3. It is secreted during orgasm or nipple stimulation or even during a romantic massage
4. Reduces anxiety and increases tolerance to pain
5. It is sold as pitocin (I didn't know that before)

That is why when you are having pain caused by pregnancy, a romantic massage does relieve the tension. It is also the reason for the rumor that intercourse causes labor to start. (I still don't believe it though, and no I won't try it)So I guess our husbands are our natural pain relievers and labor inducers. They are needed during labor after all!! They can not only be our coaches, but they can give us hugs and rubs during the tense times of labor.

I would like to hear comments from people who know more about oxytocin and know more about biology. This is real interesting to me.

(info from Wikipedia)

Menstrual Like Cramps in the Ninth Month

2006-08-23T14:25:00.000-07:00

For the past three days I have had menstrual like cramps. These cramps are the worst I have ever had. They disappointed me because I had no contractions afterwards. I refuse to take tylenol at this point because I heard that pain medication can inhibit labor. I am insane I know!

I asked around what to do to relieve the cramping and of course the best advice came from my sister-in- law. She suggested I soak in a warm bath. If they go away they are nothing. If it is true labor, the bath will help labor intensify more quickly.

I also tried walking, which helped me and of course, a massage.

The cramps are gone for now and I feel much better. Going to physical therapy also helped relieve the tension and cramping.

Mucus Plug

2006-08-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

What the heck is it? Does losing it mean that labor is hours away?

The mucus plug is a build up of secretions on the opening of the cervix that protect the uterus and baby from infection. Usually sometime in the ninth month you lose this mucus plug because the cervix is dilating. The mucus plug is a gooey substance that looks a little like gelatin. Sometimes you find it in your clothes, sometimes after wiping when using the bathroom. It kind of looks like a plug.

To be honest, this is the only pregnancy where I noticed that I lost the mucus plug. Quite often you can lose the mucus plug gradually and it seems more like a heavy discharge. Sometimes it has blood in it, sometimes it is clear.

The bad news is that it doesn't exactly mean that labor is hours away. You can have at least two more weeks to go!

It is strange that I looked up a lot of information on "mucus plug" but found it beneficial to read message boards on the topic and read what other women went through. Some said that theirs was clear, some said there was a bloody show, one lady said she wiped it up and showed it to her husband. (ewwwww!)

I don't have any weird stories to share, and this is the only time in my life that I will describe discharges. Pregnancy changes women, that is all I will say.

Signs of Labor Checklist

2006-08-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

1. Dropping: Check. I feel like I have a bowling ball in between my legs. At my last check up the midwife confirmed that the head was very low.
2.Frequent Urination: Check.
3. Low Back Ache: Check Check! I had to take medication, the pain was so bad.
4.Stronger Braxton Hicks Contractions: Check. Though there is still no regularity.
5. Diarrhea: No. In fact, I am constipated. For once in my life I am wishing to have diarhhea. Can you believe that?
6.Increased Vaginal Dischage: Check
7. Passing of Mucus Plug: Check, with not a lot of blood
8. Water Breaking: Well, I am still at home am I? So no.

I was almost 3 centimeters dilated at my last check up as well. I also feel nauseous and have the worst menstural like cramps. WHY ISN"T ANYTHING HAPPENING THEN????

I gave up timing my Braxton Hicks Contractions. I just live life like normal. I was not meant to have a baby early I guess. This boy needs to grow a little bit more.

List from askdrsears.com

38 Weeks

2006-08-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, nothing yet. I am almost 3 centimeters but not soft enough to be induced. No regular contractions, though I am crampy. I am scheduled to be induced next Tuesday. Sorry I am not writing too much. It is difficult for me to get in the mood to write about pregnancy. I am too busy getting angry at the news for showing John Mark Karr's every move. I'd rather see a war or something. Now I am watching a documentary on the Emperor Trajan. That is how I survive the final month of pregnancy. I obsess over politics. During my son's birth we were in an election year at least. I think this year I will obsess over ancient Rome. Those Romans were crazy!

My baby is falling out!!

2006-08-19T15:40:00.000-07:00

One thing that I haven't read anywhere about the third of fourth pregnancy is how differently you carry the baby by the ninth month. This time I feel like someone lodged a bowling ball in between my legs. It is the oddest feeling in the world. I feel like I am walking on my baby's head! This is not how I felt with the other pregnancies. Sure I felt pelvic pressure, but never this low!! I can hardly walk. If I take to wide of a step I feel that pressure and it feels unnatural. I called my doctor and was told that was normal if you have had more than two pregnancies. Your body doesn't hold the baby as high anymore causing that bowling ball in a bag feeling.

Ways to prevent that from happening: kegel exercises and yoga! Good physical therapy also works.

Pickles and Oranges

2006-08-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

I am having weird cravings for pickles and oranges now. I wonder what that means?

I have hit the 37th week now so officially, my baby is full term. I still want the baby to "cook" a little while longer.

My baby has dropped and I feel like I have a bowling ball in between my legs. The pressure is painful. He is also a very active baby, especially at night. That is not a good thing. My son also was very active at night and he ended up staying up all night crying the first three months of his life.

My nesting instincts have kicked big time. That is very difficult when you can't walk. I want to clean everything. I am just unhappy with my home. The slightest speck of dirt is driving me crazy, but I am making myself stay off of my feet as much as possible. I really don't want to injure myself any worse than I have.

My mother will kill me, but I admit to cooking lunch and washing the dishes today. I just couldn't stand it anymore!! I was tired of eating fast food and seeing dishes all over the counter.

WELL, yay! It is 1:30 AM and I ACTUALLY feel tired. I will take advantage of this and go to bed!!

36 Weeks

2006-08-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

Well, the baby has dropped. I feel it too. Today I felt like the baby was going to fall out! I had no contractions, but the babies head caused enough pain.

I had an ultrasound. They say the baby is around 6 pounds which is normal for this time of development. I have also not dialated yet! Not even close! That is normal for me however. I don't dialate on my own very well.

So, things are moving along. I will PROBABLY be induced in two weeks.

My Stroller and Pre-School

2006-08-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

I finally got my stroller. We are very happy with it. I got the Combi Savona Travel System. It is better than the ones I tested at Baby's R Us. It is light and easy to maneuver. I tested it out on my 2 year old son and he loved it. We ordered it from Chit Chat Baby.com. We are happy with Chit Chat Baby.com and Albee Baby.com. Both gave us quick service and charged no shipping. They also offered the lowest prices.

I was able to get my daughter into a good pre-school!! At first there was no openings but yesterday we were informed that an opening came up. There is no free pre-school in Tennesse except for special programs that I do not qualify for, but spending the money is worth it. My daughter is excited. I will have two days a week to only have two babies in the house. So everyone is happy.

Daddies Get Depressed Too

2006-08-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law sent me this article about dads getting postpartum depression.
Click here to read it.

I hope my husband reads this because I think he is already suffering from depression. He is not used to me needing his help. He is used to having his meals on the table and others taking care of him. For the first time in a while, he has to care for someone else. It is scary and overwhelming for him. I guess he would never survive pregnancy. I wonder if men had babies if the post partum depression rate would be higher.

Ice Pack Day

2006-08-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

My body is unusually hot 24/7. It doesn't help that the temperature is near 100.

I went to my physical therapy today and boy did I need it. I somehow hurt my right side under my hip and had trouble even sitting. The pillow between my legs did not help much at all. Well, the therapist fixed it and I feel so much better. The only problem is that now my left side is hurting! I can't win!

At therapy, I got unusally hot. I usually stay cool in that room but I burned up today. The therapist had to put ice packs on me to cool me down. She suggested that when at home and when I feel overheated to wrap a towel around some frozen vegetables and put it on my neck. Another thing she suggested was to put my feet in cold water.

At home, after my afternoon nap, I woke up feeling like I woke up outside. I was super hot!! I put my ice pack on my neck and drank cold water but could not cool down. I felt like I was going to go insane. I was mean and snappy.

My poor kids! My son doesn't seem to care, but my daughter is getting nervous too probably wondering why this mean woman has taken over her mommy's body. It doesn't help that her allergies have kicked in and she is feeling sinus pressure (which she calls a toothache). She cried and whined for two hours. I tried hard to be patient but finally called my mother. She always seems to calm things down.

I am trying to cut down my daughter's TV time as well, but as sick and hot as I felt, I gave in and let her watch The Disney Channel while I tried to calm down. The ninth month of pregnancy is a time not to feel guilty about having your kids watch too much television.

My husband took my son shopping with him. They got back around ten and my husband gave my son a lollipop. Of course, I snapped at him because I knew what was coming. My son got super hyper. He jumped off couches and one time he flipped off of it. He climbed up the window sill and jumped off there. He ran around yelling "Go Fish! Go Fish!" and he laughed hysterically. He ran around until about midnight.

I think my husband learned his lesson!!

So now it is after 1AM. I am still trying to get comfortable and now I hear the toilet running which is making me angry!!

Take the Heat Seriously!!!

2006-08-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Reading this article reminded me how careful pregnant women need to be in this heat.

"She was treated for heat exhaustion, but her husband says the heat had nothing to do with her death. 29-year-old Denise Quickenton of Schenectady was seven months pregnant with her first child. She died Saturday after collapsing at Fenway Park.

Tuesday night, her husband sat down with NEWS10's Alyssa Van Wie and shared the details of what he says really happened.

"This had nothing to do with the heat," says Todd Quickenton, Denise's husband. "It had to do with a pre-existing condition that we were unaware of."

Todd does not want people to think that enjoying a baseball game in the sun is what killed his wife, Denise.

Rooting for the Red Sox was their favorite past-time.

"We could have taken extravagant vacations or something like that, but we chose to go to games," Todd says.

Denise died during Saturday's game, just as the pair moved to the concourse at Fenway Park, away from the sun-soaked bleacher seats. Todd says she was fine one moment, and the next moment, she collapsed.

Todd said, "I did what I could to try and make her breathe again, because her teeth were clenched and her tongue was in the way, so I cleared that and she gurgled in a breath, but we just couldn't sustain her."

EMS rushed to treat her and her unborn son. They only saved one.

"Her heart stopped in the ambulance," says Todd. "They tried to keep the vitals going, just to save the baby."

Maxwell Gregory weighed just three pounds at delivery, two months premature. Here at home, there is a trust fund in his name at TrustCo Bank.

But Max is still at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston; a hospital renown for helping premature babies like him. Because of that, his mom is being honored as something of a hero.

"If it had happened anyplace else...we wouldn't have him either," Todd says.

An autopsy will be performed Wednesday to determine the exact cause of death.

Todd Quickenton told us doctors believe it was a heart condition that may have been exacerbated by the pregnancy and could have taken Denise's life at any time.

Services will be held later this week."
(from-http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=5228176)

My Prayers have been Answered

2006-08-06T17:09:00.000-07:00

I think my prayers (and maybe that of my mother's) have been answered. I have been increasingly worried about having a third child under the age of 5 and doing it on my own. I try hard not to panic.

One thing that freaks me out is to bring three small children to church by myself. My husband goes to another church so I go alone. I really want my children to go to church , but I wonder how on earth I could handle it!

Then today the Young Women's president told me that the Young Women have decided to offer to help me with the kids during sacrament. Every Sunday, one of the girls will sit with me and help me juggle the children. Also, my wonderful visiting teacher was called to be the Relief Society president today. I am very excited about that. She knows me very well and my situation and a highly organized lady. I guess my patience has paid off and I see that how even though it is stressful to go to church with small children, you do receive great blessings. You go to church because of your faith, not because it is easy or people give you lots of attention. I have learned that it is better to go to church and spend most of the time in the mother's lounge than it is to stay home. I have received so many blessings. (and remember I go without my husband's support)

I hope that helps a young mother struggling with little ones in church. It is worth all of the hard work in the end and your faith and testimony grow tremendously.

Hip Pain and Church

2006-08-06T17:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first pregnancy when I have suffered from hip pain. In the past, my pain was always in my tailbone or in the pelvic area. The hip pain is terrible and, of course, getting worse everyday the baby grows larger.

The physical therapy helps a lot. In my therapy I get a deep tissue massage and do some light yoga. I am now able to walk and get at least a couple of days of relief. However, the baby grows and changes position, so my pain comes back.

I have trouble doing activities that require bending and too much standing. Washing the dishes and doing laundry aggravate my pain. I try to relieve it by lying down with a pillow between my legs. Taking a nap for some reason helps me to relax and feel better too.

I have noticed that going to church really is making my pain intensify. Sitting for three hours on not the softest chairs is quite difficult. I try to stand up and walk around every 15 minutes or so but it still doesn't help. Dragging two kids 4 and 2 also doesn't help.

I am thinking about bringing a small pillow or rolling a blanket to provide support while at church. I am also seriously considering going to a chiropractor!

I think I am sick

2006-08-05T08:38:00.000-07:00

This has been a very hot week. I have had trouble staying cool. This morning I woke up freezing. I still am. I actually have a blanket wrapped around me. Now I can't keep warm. I also feel real light headed and dizzy. Folks, believe it or not, I don't think this is pregnancy related. I think I actually have some kind of illness. Luckily it is Saturday, so my husband can take the kids out and let me rest. I wonder if that is the true reason why I have been so nervous. Maybe it wasn't hormones or discomfort at all.

I will have to keep a close eye on it and make sure I don't get too sick. I only have a month to go. I can survive. I know I can.

Thank You Husband

2006-08-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

All day long all I could think was, "Boy am I glad my husband works at home!" Before you think I am bragging, remember I am a former military wife so I had to parent these children by myself most of my four and a half years of being a mother. This time my husband is at home 24/7 telecommuting.

Sometimes having my husband here 24/7 is annoying. Any marriage would suffer from being around their spouse too much. However, right now I see it as a great blessing. I have a few more weeks left in my pregnancy in one of the hottest summers in years. I am tired, in pain, and have no more patience. I just can't be the greatest mother right now. I don't know what I'd do without my husband here to take over the kids when things get overwhelming.

As you have probably already read, I have terrible, terrible nights. A lot of times I am in tremendous pain, or suffer from restless legs syndrome. In the mornings I am out of it. My husband takes over in the mornings and feeds and dresses the kids. He even changes my son's daily morning poop diaper. I think I am most grateful for that!

I try to keep the kids busy and entertained, but sometimes the kids just fight and have tantrums. That is when I have to ask my husband to take over because I will yell at my children.

Today I was super tired and I could not cool down. I took two showers and had ice cold drinks all day. Nothing could cool me down. I was frustrated and a wreck, but I didn't lose my mind because my husband was there to help me out.

This telecommuting is temporary, so I think I will wait a good five years before trying to have another baby. I don't think I can handle another pregnancy right now, and certainly not by myself. Having my husband here is definitely a blessing and I will always be grateful to my husband. I just need to really try to be sweeter to him. I am so awful lately.

So I want to say publicly how much I appreciate him and how sorry I am for taking out my pain and discomfort on him!!

Combi Play Yard

2006-08-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

I got my Combi Play Yard today. I am so excited about it and got exactly what I wanted. It has a changing table and a removable bassinet that I can use for the baby's bed. The bassinet is very sturdy and is like those bassinets that usually cost $100 by themselves. The Travel Play Yard has wheels on it so I can easily move it. The bassinet has vibrations and music. I also love that it has an organizer on the side. I got the removable bassinet with the play yard for $99. We ordered it from albeebaby.com and got free shipping. It was shipped in two days. We are happy with the service and real happy with the new Combi Play Yard. I hope my baby loves it as well!! We are still waiting for our stroller and hope to get it soon.

A Venting Moment

2006-08-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

I just want to say that during the final month of pregnancy I hate being in public. I want to choke the Walmart stock boy who seems to always pull his stupid cart behind me. It is like the stock boy takes his cart and follows me where ever I go expecting ME the customer to move!!! Does he not see the enormous stomach I have? Does he not see that I have trouble walking?? Does Walmart even hire gentlemen?

I hate lines at restaurants, especially if I just walked in from the 100 degree heat.

I really hate it when kids run down the hallways without looking up and come close to hitting me in the stomach. I will yell at that child! Sorry if that offends you mothers out there.

I will honk you if at the green light you sit there as if you are admiring the tint of green on the light. Be lucky I am Christian because otherwise there might be some obscene gestures too.

I especially hate it when driving 65 on a 55 and some redneck in his gigantic red truck still feels like I am still going to slow and tailgates me. I hate that when I am not pregnant actually.

If I make an order at a restaurant, the person BETTER get my order right. I am satisfying a craving and if I get something that I don't want, I WILL slam the food on the counter and I will NOT be nice.

If my older kids act up, you BETTER not give me the dirty look. Try doing the opposite and ask if I need help. That usually embarrasses the children enough that they will being to obey.

Remember, I am carrying a lot of weight. IT is 100 degrees outside and I have chronic back pain. Please have a little sympathy for the pregnant woman.

Another question.. .why do people seem to be more polite towards pregnant women in New York City than they do in the South? I thought the South was known for their hospitality. Is Southern hospitality dead? In New York, I got help with my kids and doors opened and people would give up their seats on the train for me. The older people would come and play with my children and once bought them some french fries. Yuppie men in Manhattan would offer to carry my kid's stroller up the stairs, gangster looking guys from Harlem would open doors for me. The mafia looking guy would help me carry my bags. Yes, I learned to never stereotype.

Do I get that treatment in the South? No! People let doors shut in my face. Judge me when my kids have fits. Do not help me when I struggle with my stroller or with my bags. Never compliment me or my kids. In fact, I had people act impatient when I walked slow, even though it was obvious I was pregnant and limping with pain. The South isn't always the nicest place. New York definately earned it's place as being the most polite city.

(The rudest city I've been to== Seoul, South Korea)

Husband's Guide to Surviving the Ninth Month

2006-08-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

I remember when working for AT&T, a lady called in about long distance phone calls that she had made. She demanded that the calls be taken off her bill because the rates were too high. The representative told her that he was unable to take the charges off. She then told the guy that she was about to give birth and screamed and cried and told the representative that he was causing her to go into labor. What she didn't know was that the representative had put her on speaker phone. We all heard her screaming at the top of her lungs.

I didn't laugh. That ninth month of pregnancy makes women do crazy things. My husband is learning that quickly. He is learning that it is plain stupid to even argue with me at this point.

I become a mean harpy my last month of pregnancy. I am impatient and ready for the attack. I can control a lot my mouth most of the time, but I know of women who did not control their mouths at all. I came close to yelling at a lady for ordering a plain hamburger at a gyro restaurant. Come on, she wasted my time standing in line when she could of ordered that at Wendy's or McDonald's! I decided instead to sit down and let my husband do the ordering.

I warned my husband for eight months for this moment. He didn't heed my warnings and learned the hard way that I do not have patience for fighting. I don't care if he is from a machismo culture or Mars for that matter. I will admit though that he is improving.

Well, here are some tips for new dads surviving the final month of pregnancy:

Never tell your wife how she feels.
Do not expect a lot of intimacy.
DO NOT GET OFFENDED IF SHE YELLS AT YOU (she will probably be abusive)
Do not complain about money, especially the utility bill
Help her with the housework
Allow her to take naps
Take the older kids out every once in a while
Don't let her go too crazy with "nesting"
Take her on as many dates as you can, make her feel special
If she is in pain, hold her hand (if she lets you) and let her whine about it
If she rejects you, do not take it personally, in 30 minutes she will probably forget and want to hug you tightly
Just try not to get mad at her, get her mind off of her pregnancy by talking about the baby or something she enjoys, like politics
Rent lots of movies she enjoys and if she doesn't want to watch football, turn it to a show she wants.
Surprise her with a gift like flowers or a free make over or a massage (do NOT buy clothes or lingerie, you will not live!!)
Do not, repeat, do NOT make jokes about her weight or how much she eats, in fact do not make jokes at all or you might see divorce papers soon.

Remember this woman is carrying your child, your big, growing child. She at least deserves one special month to be treated like a queen. Believe me, trust me, if you do those things, your last month will go by more smoothly, and your wife will never forget it. It might take a couple of months, but you will be treated like a king forever. (at least until the next pregnancy or menopause kicks in)

Heartburn and Pregnancy

2006-08-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

I can't think of one pregnant woman who did not suffer from heartburn at some point. Tums with calcium is the most recommended remedy for relief. Other ways to prevent heartburn is to avoid greasy, fried, and fatty foods. Eating earlier in the evening and sleeping propped up is another way to avoid heartburn. I have also read that ginger root is real good. Since fuzzy sodas can cause heartburn to get worse, I do not know if ginger ale will get rid of heartburn though it does relieve nausea. Caffeine and chocolate also aggravate heartburn. I just ate a chocolate ice cream sandwhich so I can say that I am suffering right now. Milk does not help heartburn. Avoiding stress is also another way to help, but with two small children, I don't know how I can avoid that.
If you know of any other remedy PLEASE share it (I beg of you!!!!!!!!!)

Birth Plan

2006-08-02T11:23:00.000-07:00

About 34 weeks is a good time to make a birth plan according to the pregnancy websites and magazines. I can honestly say that I have never made a plan. I guess I am not too picky. I have never been to child birth classes and never experimented with different methods. I just show up, say that I don't want pain medication but will have an epidural if I need it and that I want the baby washed before I hold him. I also don't liked to be touched except to have someone massage my back if I need it. I even usually hold my own legs when I push. That is with the epidural.

Everyone is different. But one thing I learned is that you can't be disappointed if you don't make too detailed of a birth plan. I just plan to have my baby and hope things go well. Having an epidural or learning a birthing method does not make you a better or worse mother. Planning to bottle feed also does not make you a bad mother. There is no one way to have and raise a baby. As long as the baby is healthy and the mother is healthy that is all that matters in the end. I pray for a healthy birth and that is my only strict plan. Lots and lots of prayer!!

We bought it all!!

2006-08-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

I am real excited! We finally bought almost everything we need for the new baby. I just need diapers, bottles, and winter baby clothing. Last night we bought a Combi Travel System stroller and a Combi play pen complete with bassinet. I am real excited about it. We found low prices by putting the products we wanted in bizrate.com, a comparison shopper. I was able to save $50 as I was going to buy the product at Target or Walmart. Those companies charge shipping and made me buy a part seperately. I was able to find the products from a reputable online seller, that offered free shipping and sold the stroller/car seat as a package. I am real happy about that!

Prune Juice and other Constipation Remedies

2006-08-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

Constipation can be a terrible thing to go through during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester. One thing that has worked wonderfully for me to keep me regular and my digestive system healthy is a half a glass of prune juice in the mornings. I feel so much better and I do not have so much pressure and constipation all day. Less pressure means less back pain for me. Prunes are also high in iron and are a great supplement if you are anemic or low on iron. Another great reason to drink a little prune juice in the morning. Because it is summer and very hot, I make sure I drink lots of water which also helps.

Other recommendations include apples and pears. Try to find fresh squeezed apple juice. For severe constipation, my doctor recommends milk of magnesia. That helps a lot. After having a baby, the doctors usually give you a stool softener as constipation is common after giving birth. The stool softeners did not help me too much, so drinking lots of water and a half a glass of prune juice should do the trick!

A prune juice myth-- Dr.Pepper is not made out of prune juice! So drinking Dr.Pepper will not help you get regular. In fact, because of the caffeine, it may dehydrate you and make the constipation worse!

Notice I didn't share some personal experiences. For one thing, it is too disgusting to share. For another, I am still traumatized by the experiences. I'd rather give birth!! I'd rather drink prune juice which doesn't taste that great than go through that experience.

Hospital Visit 7/30/06

2006-08-02T10:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday night I was preparing for church the next day. I took my long nightly shower to relax my back and was ready to sleep. I was unable to sleep however because I had severe back pain. I could not lie down, I could not stand up, and I could not sit. Everything hurt. The pain was so bad that I was in tears. After a while my legs got nervous and felt like matches were lighting under my skin. I tried tylenol, exercise, baths, and water. Nothing go trid of the pain. Finally at 6AM I literally passed out on my bath from exhaustion. I woke up an hour later and called my doctor. I was sent to the hospital where I was given a pain pill. My back finally felt more relaxed and I could lie down comfortably. My husband took me to my mother's so I could get extra help with the kids, and a comfortable bed to sleep in. I took an ambien and slept real well without worrying too much about the kids. I even had heartburn, but because of the ambien, I was able to sleep through it. Ambien did not cause any weird side effects and did not make me too drowsy. I would never drive a car after taking ambien, however.

I am doing better. I still have back pain but I am able to manage it. My physical therapist worked on a real sore area and I have been not doing too much housework and wearing my prenatal cradle when I walk around. The baby is doing well and I am not having contractions or complications.

Husbands Say the Darndest Things

2006-07-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Husbands just don't understand pregnancy. They don't get and sometimes say the silliest things. I am patient with those weird comments up until the last month, and now to be honest I don't have patience anymore!! Here are some weird comments that really annoy me. Remember, I am in my last month, so what annoys me may not annoy the average person. Also, because of my bad back, I can't do a lot of things in the house so my husband who is from a very macho culture has to help out more. He also works at home telecommuting for an internet company. He helps out a lot and I thank him, but some of the comments annoy me and at the same time make me laugh.

1. "But I hate to do dishes" (like I LOVE doing them!)
2. "I don't know how to cook hamburger helper" (read the box!)
3. "Why did you stay up all night? You need to go to bed."
4. "You clean up better than I do"
5. "It is not hot. Turn down the air conditioner."
6."What is for supper?" (after telling him 3 times that I can't cook tonight because I feel so sick)
7. (from across the hall) "Jon pooped!!" (well aren't you right there??)
8. "There are a lot of dishes in the sink"

I know I must sound mean. I am trying to laugh more and not get so impatient. What are some annoying things your husbands say when you were pregnant? Bless them though!!

Another Late Night

2006-07-27T12:49:00.000-07:00

I am still too scared to try the ambien. Sleeping pills scare me. I stayed up until 4:30 AM. I worked on my del.icio.us account to try to get my mind off of the pain and discomfort I was feeling. I still got contractions here and there and eventually they went away. I slept propped up on pillows on the couch with the fan blowing right in my face to keep cool. I forgot to put my breathing strip on my nose so I had trouble breathing. I finally got some sleep, and later I took a nap so I feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Late Night Contractions

2006-07-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

I bragged to my doctor today about not getting any contractions. Boy!! Did I speak too soon. It is 1:30 AM and I am getting some pretty bad contractions. They have been coming every two mintues. I will try walking around and drinking water and hopefully they will go away. I never had labor on my own. I have always been induced so these contractions are more than likely Braxton Hicks.

34 Weeks Check Up

2006-07-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the doctor for my 34 weeks check up. I was able to walk to my appointment this time which pleased my doctor. My belly measured perfect and the baby's heartbeat was in the 150s. The only scary moment came when my midwife ran out of the room quickly after checking the baby's heartbeat. I was scared for a couple of minutes wondering what was wrong. Usually a doctor only runs out when something is wrong and they need to discuss the problem with another doctor before telling you the bad news. Two minutes felt like an eternity before my midwife returned with a bag of ambien samples. I was too relieved and in shock to complain.

I will get another ultrasound in two weeks to see if I can be induced.

I did my exercises only once today mainly because it hurt too bad to sit down. The stretches really helped out. I have to do the yoga pose called the cat and hip rotations. After doing those poses I feel like I had a massage. I also take a hot shower before going to bed to relax my muscles. It really seems to be helping.

I noticed that I cannot shop for more than 10 minutes. I either need to sit and eat or go home. I really lose my patience to the point of crying. I can't stand when people walk in my way and those bright lights make me want to faint. I almost always start to black out and get dizzy. my husband doesn't understand it, but maybe I should attach a 20 pound weight to his stomach and make him walk around. I am sure he will black out too.

I didn't gain any weight in two weeks. I wonder if walking around in the heat is the reason why. My stomach feels so tight that I get full fast too.

I did too much today and paid for it. I had to lie down and nap for about two hours before I felt half way normal again. Thankfully my kids were good.

Well, 4-6 more weeks to go!!

The Last Month

2006-07-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

Since I am nearing my last month of pregnancy, I will try to post everyday. A lot happens the last month and I really want to document what I went through and how I prepared for the new arrival.

Right now my daughter is going through my son's old baby clothes. I still haven't washed them or the toys. My husband ordered some detergent online three weeks ago and we still haven't got it. We also haven't received our bulk order of size four diapers for my son either and we are quickly running out of diapers. I really don't want to use Tide for the baby stuff. Tide makes me itch so I can't imagine what it would do to the baby.

I still need to buy a stroller, a rocking chair, a place to store baby clothes, and some nursing gowns and clothes. My husband and I also really want to buy a new mattress.

I went to physical therapy today. I was in pain most of my session. The therapist told me to rest because she thinks I overdid it last week. My hips were in pretty bad shape. I tried a few exercises and I am required to do 100 kegels a day. WOW!

Leg Cramps

2006-07-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I woke up in tremendous pain. I had one of those awful leg cramps that plague me during the third trimester. I felt like a shark was biting my leg! I tried hitting it. I rubbed it, and finally I just screamed. It went away after a couple of minutes, but I am still sore. I can't point my toe in fear that it will tense up again. I know it is nothing because I have had them before. I think with Victoria I had them the worst.

I also have a lot of pelvic pressure, but no contractions. I called the doctor and she said that I should be fine. I go Wednesday to the doctor and tomorrow to the physical therapist. I will be taken good care of the next month.

I found my bouncy seat and my swing at my mom's house over the weekend. I also found some nice clothes for little boys, and some little baby shoes. I still have a lot of organizing to do in my apartment. I have no idea where I will fit all of my baby things.

I have already started nesting. Even with pelvic pain and pressure and crampy legs, I cleaned out my kids' closet while sitting on my rolling computer chair. I still have a long way to go!!

Physical Therapy

2006-07-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

Because I have a loosening of the hips, the doctor referred me to the physical therapist. I finally went today. I was a little nervous about going, not sure if it was going to really help me out. Nobody told me that deep tissue massage was part of the therapy!! If I had known that I would have asked my doctor to refer me earlier!!

All during my pregnancy I have felt so much pressure and pain in my pelvic area. I would day dream about someone jumping on my lower back anything to get rid of that pressure! On top of the pressure, my pelivc area and hips have completely loosened and sometimes I can't even walk.

It was great to go to the therapist today and get thirty minutes of deep tissue massage to relieve the pressure and strengthen the muscles. I will go twice a week and have an hour of therapy a week. I will not only do massage but will do some exercises as well.

I will also say that thank goodness that I am a more flexible than some. I was able to stretch pretty big with no pain. Imagine if I was not flexible! I am sure the pain would be worse. So if you are planning to have babies, work on your flexibility through yoga or dance. I know as soon as the baby is out, I will go back to doing yoga.

I also noticed that the baby is more relaxed as well. He hasn't kicked as much (though still moving)

So far my physical therapy sessions were a success. My hips feel relieved and relaxed. I didn't even yell when my husband made me angry. I can't wait for next week!!

So, if your doctor recommends physical therapy, go for it!

Doctor Check Up

2006-07-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

My experience was terrible! While walking to the room for my 32 weeks check up my hips went out of place. The nurse had to help me walk to the room and after the appointment she had to push me in a wheelchair. I have to go to physical therapy now and the plan is that I will be induced in 6 weeks. I feel horrible due to mild dehydration and constipation and now I have trouble walking.

Well, the good news is, only 6 more weeks!!

Will write more later!!

Why Do Pregnant Women Rub Their Bellies?

2006-07-10T22:07:00.000-07:00

I rub my belly to stop the pain. My baby is digging his feet into my stomach and pushing with all of his might. I am not really rubbing but rather kind of pushing his feet off of my gall bladder.

How would you answer this question?

32 Weeks Gone by Slowly

2006-07-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

I finally have reached 32 weeks out of breath and ready to give up! My body has finally given up and my ligaments have given out. It hurts to sit, it hurts to stand, it hurts to walk, and it even hurts to lie down. I also notice that my blood pressure has gone up slightly (but still way below 140).

I still have two other kids to raise, so I have learned to be creative. My four year daughter and two year old son help me unload the dishwasher. They bend over and pick up the dishes, and I can then easily put them away. My daughter swiffers the floors. It is a lot of fun for her! I can't bend over and pick things up so I roll around in my computer chair and my kids pick things off of the floor and I put them up. My husband does all of the hard stuff like vacuuming and making beds. Now he has to do groceries and some cooking. We cook instant meals like hamburger helper or frozen stir fry meal in the bags. I also have back up food in the freezer to thaw out and cook. I sometimes still feel rested enough to cook simple meals like spaghetti and some soups.

I am also creative on how I keep the kids busy. I still teach them pre-school at home. I also take them outside to play while I sit in my beach chair. I hate this show, but I let them watch Barney because he teaches them fun games to play together like "Ring Around the Rosies" and "Looby Loo".

That is the hardest thing about being pregnant with other small children. You don't get the luxury of sleeping all day or resting. I still have to care for the others and not make them feel left out. Thank goodness for my creative brain or else I would lose my mind!!

I would appreciate other ideas!! Please post some ways to juggle being almost in bed rest and raising small children. I think keeping a clean house is out of the question now!

Confessions of a Pregnant Caffeine Addict

2006-07-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

I know many people say that you should not have caffeine. But OH how it makes my day go by easier. I only drink caffeinated sodas, iced down, three or four times a week. I am 31 weeks pregnant with two small children and have no energy. I felt guilty but to relieve the guilt I found out that it would take over 20 cups of Pepsi a day to cause problems for a baby. I think that would damage me as well. One piece of advice though; caffeine does dehydrate you, bad thing for the summer. I make sure to drink extra water on the days I drink a soda. Too much caffeine can also aggravate restless legs syndrome and cause bladder problems. I have had both (still have restless legs syndrome) so I really try to drink plenty of water. I notice a banana helps too. Cranberry juice does nothing to help.

Yes, I am bad. I even know what to do to allow myself to drink a soda every once in a while. It is a bad habit, but it helps me get through those days that I can't stand the mess anymore!! (I think I am nesting early this time)

Don't Leave Home Without Them!!

2006-07-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

One thing I learned the hard way about the third trimester of pregnancy. . . don't leave home without your Tums!! I have had really bad heartburn and twice was stuck out without my precious, precious Tums. Oh, the agony of heartburn!

I have heard an old wives' tale that a lot of heartburn means you will have a hairy baby. That has been true for me in the past. I will be expecting a boy with a full head of hair this September!

Becoming a Stroller Snob

2006-07-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

I usually buy baby things on a budget, but for some strange reason I have become a stroller snob. Maybe being in New York watching Manhattanite nannies stroll spoiled babies in designer strollers had a negative affect on me. Or perhaps it is the fact that I have been through two strollers already and hurt my back carrying the last one.

I want a lightweight aluminum stroller with either a bassinet or a pram feature. I have been cringing my nose at American brands wanting only an Italian made stroller. To be honest though, the Italian made stroller ARE better, but the price is so high. The bugaboos (not Italian but $700-$800) are too much for me, and I don't live in NYC anymore so they are unnecessary for my current lifestyle. The Italian ones however, aren't too much out of my price range.

I have never been a snob about baby things. I have no idea why I want a certain brand now. I want the Peg Perego. The one with the pram feature. I feel like a brat demanding such a thing while I wear cheap Walmart clothing. I will compromise and get the City Savvy Combi. I test drove one today and loved it!! Yes, strollers are like cars. They have new models every year and have different levels of prestige. So I hope to get my mid range Italian stroller!! Maybe I am not too much of a snob after all. At least I am not begging for Italian designer shoes.

31 Weeks and Swollen Feet!!

2006-07-04T23:05:00.000-07:00

I am now 31 weeks!! Wow! Time has gone by so quickly. I have a name for my son, Aron Charles and even finished my baby registry. I am slowly getting my home ready for the baby and am now renting a washer and dryer so that we don't have to go to the laundromat anymore.

I am feeling fine but this is the first time I had a problem with swollen feet. I saw a doctor for a cold and while there asked about my red swollen feet. He said they were fine, not too swollen, and that swollen feet is common in women pregnant in the summer. He told me to stay off of my feet as much as possible, rest, and drink plenty of water. Fortunately, my husband is giving me regular massages so that helps a lot too. I always had babies in the winter, so this is a new experience for me.

Medicine that worked

2006-06-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

I took Mucinex and antavert and felt fine with no strange side effects. I found out that weird side effects run in the family. My son stayed up all night after taking Singulair. Poor baby!

30 weeks!!

2006-06-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ten more weeks to go!! Still no nursery set up or clothes washed. I don't even know what I have yet, I don't own a baby stroller. I did pick out a name, Aron Charles. At least that is done. Now, I have a box full of clothes to wash and nursing bras to buy. The poor baby doesn't even have bottles and no room for his baby things. 3o weeks is a good time to begin thinking about the big day coming up and to start planning the nursery, if you have room for one!

When the Rare Side Effects Affect You

2006-06-19T16:30:00.000-07:00

When side effects are listed on the side of a prescription bottle, under the usual ones the pharmacist will list rarer side effects, the one the sufferer must call the doctor about immediately. The first thing that comes to mind, for example, is the commercial for Cialis warning its user that in rare circumstances the medicine will cause a four hour long erection!

Since most people are not affected by those rare side effects it almost doesn't make since to list them. I know that I always wonder about the weird person who has the rare side effects. Especially since that person is usually myself.

Pain medication and sleeping pills make me hyper. I get heart palpitations from claritin D. I am allergic to three different types of anti- biotics, and now I found out that I cannot take Phenergan.

Phernergan, or promethazine, is prescribed by doctors to help pregnant women deal with nausea. (among other reasons) I also read that it is given to help relax a woman before labor. Most side effects are dry mouth, drowsiness, and dizziness.

Well, I did not relax or fall asleep after taking this drug. I fell into the restlessness, hyper, uncontrollable shaking, and nightmares category. Let us just say that my experience was like a bad trip to Hell.

I took it at 10 PM thinking that I would get a good sleep. After the medicine kicked in, I noticed that the slightest noise made me jump out of my skin, I kept hearing a squealing noise coming from the walls and little creepy bugs in the corner of my eyes. My husband, of course, made me upset by telling me that I had to wake up at 6 AM and I had a panic attack when he refused to talk to me. I yelled at my son to go to sleep, which he quickly did, and then the nightmare became worse. My legs started shaking and kicking uncontrollably. I had to literally walk for three hours. Everytime I laid down, my legs would kick me back up standing. The pain in my legs was horrific and I began to wish for an epidural. I had to go to the bathroom literally every five minutes and everytime I went it was painful. As soon as I would go, I would jump off and begin my zombie walk again. I tried to soak my legs in the bath twice, but the second time I got so dizzy that I almost fell head first in the water. Yes, I was sitting down, making the experience even scarier.

Finally at around 3 AM, I called my doctor begging and pleading for help. She told me to take some benedryl which immediately did. I finally got some sleep, but had some weird dreams of men flying on scooters in a "starry, starry night" background. Every so often one of those bugs would go creeping around in my eyelids knocking the breath out of me. Finally, my bad trip was over. I have been half asleep all day.

After that experience, I remembered now that promethazine was the medicine given to me to "relax" me before giving birth to my daughter. The side effects were so bad that they surpassed the labor pains! I begged for an epidural to stop feeling leg pain, not to stop feeling the contractions!

So now, I add promethazine, to my long list of medicines to avoid. I have to remember that I am one of those weird people who have strange side effects to medicine!

I will admit though, I stopped feeling nauseous!! :-)

(picture from www.foundmyself.com)

Can't Take the Heat!!

2006-06-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

I really want to blog more. Not only is my belly full of life, but my mind is as well, though I doubt Athena will fall out of the side of my head.

I just can't take the heat!!! I have my thermostat down to 68 degrees and am wearing my trusty muumuu. I am still so sensitive to the heat. I can feel it from the computer screen and from my crackpot all the way in the kitchen.

Right now I wish I was in NYC in Central Park with my kids in November. That still ranks as one of my favorite memories. Right now being back in Hawaii with no air conditioner is more preferable to what I am feeling now. At least in Hawaii I got a nice breeze from Pearl Harbor.

Maybe it is the hormones talking, but I really miss New York and Hawaii right now. . . I wouldn't have my son anywhere else but the South though. I think I need to remind myself why I chose to have my baby in Tennessee.

The heat is hard to bear, but I can't take the heat of having a baby in New York City. When I first went to the doctor after having a positive pregnancy test, the first question she asked is I wanted to abort the baby!! So you can imagine how nervous I was that my doctor's values on life were so different from my own. Even walking through the streets with two young children and one on the way, I was given looks as if my skin was all purple. Only the older ones sitting in McDonald's giving my kids winks in Queens were excited. Though I LOVE NYC, it is not a very family friendly place, and stay at home mothers are not given much respect. Many nights I cried because of the comments I received because of my choice to not work outside the home.

Hawaii, on the other hand, is very supportive of families and children. I had a very easy time finding playgroups and babysitters. Neighbors would even BEG to watch my children. It was a stay at home mother's paradise!! However, I can't take the hospitals and doctors in Hawaii. I am sure there are some good doctors in Hawaii, but they were so crowded that the service I received was poor. I once went to the hospital because I could not walk (oh the pain!!)and as I sat in the waiting room, I watched three women in labor!! There was no room for them. I felt so bad that I almost forgot my own pain. I even offered one lady a massage to help her back labor.

On second thought, I think I will take the heat here in Tennessee. At least I have doctors who share my values and wonderful service at our local women's hospital.

Good News

2006-06-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

The choroid plexis cysts disappeared! My baby will be just fine. I still can't figure out what to name the poor boy though.

28 weeks check up

2006-06-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Today I did not have to wait long at the doctor's office to be seen. My glucose levels were at 124 below the limit of 140 and my blood count was excellent. I am measuring big, but that is normal for this is my third child. After each child your uterus tends to be bigger.

So, finally I have reached my third trimester. I already noticed that it is no longer fun to eat. If I eat too much or eat something that is too greasy I get terrible heartburn. I only really crave salads. I would love a Zaxby's chicken salad right now! Sometimes I think the invention of fast food restaurants are the worst thing for pregnant women!!

It was a positive check up today. I am glad that everything is ok. I am sleeping ok and feel excited about the new baby. My husband on the other hand is an emotional wreck!! It is as if he were carrying the baby!!

Soon it will be time to do our baby shopping. I don't have anything prepared. I don't even have a name picked out. Well, 12 more weeks to go!

More Baby Names

2006-06-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Now we are thinking Kameron, Timur, Arslan, and Samuel.

Samuel just strikes at my heart. I thought of it at church yesterday as the Sunday School lesson was about Samuel. So I was thinking about Samuel Arslan or something like that. Samuel is not too common now, but always a classic.

I have my next level 2 ultrasound on Thursday to determine if the choroid plexis cyst has disappeared. I am around 27 weeks and by now it should have disappeared. I am worrying again about the results, but I am sure it will be fine. I feel the baby move everyday and finally feel a strong bond with him. I will love him no matter what the results. I know God listens to my worries and will help me through anything. That is why Samuel is a perfect name for him.

Now I hope my husband agrees. Samuel is such a Jewish name, and my husband is from a Muslim background. So my son may have a Jewish name mixed with a Muslim one. And no, sorry I do not like the Arabic name Sami.

My other son's name, Salim Jon is fitting him more and more everyday. I think though that people will just call him Salem. He is a peacemaker in our home, so that name fits him perfect. He makes our family healthy.

It is amazing how names fit our children. I hope Samuel will be a name my husband and I can agree on.

A Crying Moment

2006-06-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

I finally had one of those crying, lost my mind moments. No sleep again, and I could not sit through church because my legs felt like electric shocks were going through them, my daughter was especially bratty and I just felt helpless!

I went home early and my husband took the kids so I could rest. I am thankful for that, or I would have seriously lost my mind. So when you are in public and see a woman struggling with whiney children, don't judge her as a bad mother, give her some help! Especially if she is pregnant or has a new baby! I have learned my lesson.

Any advice on how to juggle pregnancy illness, newborns, and older children. I need some advice bad!

Muumuu Maternity

2006-06-02T13:52:00.000-07:00

Again I had no luck shopping for maternity clothes and shoes. I have found that walking before going shopping is a bad idea. My feet were too swollen to try on shoes. I felt like I was a whale and none of the clothes fit right. I went to Motherhood Maternity but was unhappy with the choices. I am still waiting for a certain pair of shorts to go on sale. I also wanted these linen capris so badly, but they did not have my size. Sears had nothing, and the shorts they had were more expensive than the ones at Motherhood Maternity. Target so far has the best selection. . . sometimes. They definitely have a good selection of bathing suits. (which I will need to buy soon) I just wish the makers of maternity clothes did not assume that all pregnant women want to look like a "hot mama". I might just dig out my old Hawaiian clothes and wear muumuus everyday.

I remember my mother wearing the weirdest looking muumuus when she was pregnant with my youngest brother. She would wear them everyday. Even when she went outside to go work in the garden. I still have a picture of her wearing one putting up a tent during one of our camping vacations. I understand now as an adult why she desired the comfort, but at the age of 12, I was pretty embarrassed. Now I will wear my muumuus, but I think my daughter is too young to be embarrassed. (hey, but mine are authentic muumuus!! Does that make it better?)Muumuus aren't exactly the most flattering clothes out there, but man are they comfortable!

26 weeks

2006-05-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

I am now almost 26 weeks. I still have less than 15 weeks to go. I feel the baby move everyday and my pregnancy hormones are on overdrive.

Those hormones are pretty amazing. They loosen my joints and ligaments in my back and pelvic area, which those gives more room for the little one, brings me pain. My heart flutters and I am rarely in a good mood.

I read something about using a pregnancy wedge when you sleep, that it relieves pressure. Have any of you used one? Do they really help?

Family Success Brings Peace to a Pregnancy

2006-05-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

"All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way" -Leo Tolstoy

I have read many different books on how to have a successful family. The three main things that I see that most of the books have in common are: establish family rules, have family fun, and have family traditions.

Those three things are more difficult and complicated than they seem at first. In addition, it takes time for your family to become a success. My family is still far from being a success for example. Things are still chaotic at times and I feel that we don't have the proper peaceful spirit in our home yet.

Because of the chaos, we are too stressed and tired to have family fun, and because of the lack of fun, it is difficult to make traditions.

I need to add that I am pregnant, and thus the lack of having those three things in my family add stress to my pregnancy. (inflamed ligaments, heart palpitations)

Well, I took a stand and wrote down some rules and routines for our family and posted it on the wall. My husband and I discussed the rules and routines with our children through family councils and family home evening lessons on obedience and service. In our routines we include family meals at the table with no TV, nightly scripture stories for the kids, and family prayer. We still aren't perfect with our rules and the kids still test us, but I noticed that having the rules has made vast improvements on my marriage.

Because the rules and routines are written down, my husband and I can take a united stand. There is order and understanding between us that wasn't there before. Our communication has also improved. My husband is also more involved with the children.

Because of better communication between my husband and I, we are able to have more fun conversations. We also WANT to spend more time with our children. This past weekend, for example, has been the most fun I have had in a very long time. I know it is because of the changes my husband and I have made in the way we structure our family.

One of the biggest reasons why this weekend was very special was because my husband started a very thoughtful family tradition. We planted trees for each of our family members on my parent's property since we have no land of our own. Everytime we visit my parent's for years to come, we can look at our tree and even help take care of it. The children helped to push the dirt over their own special tree. This tradition brought my husband closer to my parents and at the same time provided an opportunity for the whole family to serve each other by helping each other plant the trees, water them, plan where to put them, etc.

I realize now how important traditions are for a family, and I feel overjoyed that my family finally has some order, tradition, and fun. This weekend has given me a feeling of peace and I know I will never forget it.

I know that we will continue to improve on these three things. I hope that when the new baby arrives, he will arrive in an orderly, loving, and fun home!!

Some great books- "3 Steps to a Strong Family" by Richard and Linda Eyre
Any book by Stephen Covey
(guess which religion they belong to!!)

The War is not Over

2006-05-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

I can't get my kids to eat normal food!! Today my daughter asked me if she could have mashed potatoes with rice! (sounds like a meal my dad would make) I need some advice, and no, my daughter doesnt fall for the hiding veggies in the spaghetti sauce trick.

Please help me have a peaceful family dinner again!!!

24 weeks

2006-05-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

I am now at 24 weeks. Still have a ways to go. To be honest I am not even ready. I haven't even picked out a name. My baby clothes are still at my mom's!

All I know s that this is supposed to be the easy time of pregnancy and it is not! If you can notice through my posting that I have a lot of complaints! Restless legs syndrome, back aches, having to wear a prenatal cradle, baby lying on a nerve, my feet swell, and now let's add heart palpitaions. Those are so much fun. So fun I think I will literally just faint! Because I had dizziness and shortness of breath, I had to go to the hospital. They hooked me up to an EKG monitor and did other tests, all which came back fine. I had heart palpitations caused by stress on top of the pregnancy. I will not go into detail why I have stress.

I learned from my sister in law (thank you!) that I had heart palpitations and those are normal during pregnancy. I need to keep the doctor informed and aware of the problem.

My blood pressure is fine, everything seems to be fine, but I just can't rest my legs at night.

Another Great Tip

2006-05-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is advice I read in some parenting magazine and use for myself. When going to Walmart or any other grocery store, parking nearest to the store is not necessarily more convenient. It is better to park next to the shopping cart rack so you can easily load and unload children, groceries, etc. Very good advice especially when it rains!

Actually I don't like to shop with my kids. It is difficult to save money, for they are always begging or adding more to my list! (I always forget to put their yogurt on my list though, they always remind me!)

Water! Water!

2006-05-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

"Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are lost especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.4 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.0 liters (about 12.5 cups) of fluids a day." (from cnn.com/health, mayoclinic)

Whoa, I feel bad. Though milk also has water. 10 cups!! No wonder pregnant women go to the bathroom a lot!

Kids don't like milk?

2006-05-20T19:44:00.000-07:00

Try ice cream!! Another way is to give them cheese, yogurt, or milk in their cereal.

Prickly Legs

2006-05-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

I am still having leg problems. Now I have a prickly pain in my legs so bad that even a hot shower does not help. The doctor says it is because the baby is resting on a nerve. Again, it was suggested that I use my prenatal cradle. That thing really comes in handy. I guess it helps leg pain as well. I will go to the doctor next week. I am sure she will complain about my weight! I have been enjoying eating for two a bit too much.

Success with Milk!

2006-05-18T15:23:00.000-07:00

I got my toddler son to drink milk. I am having a difficult time getting him to drink milk and was worried because his BMI is currently under 3%. I found something that really works! I gave him plain white milk in a bowl with a spoon. He drank it right up with no fights. I didn't even have to add anything to it! Yeah! Success!

Too Much Juice

2006-05-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today the children went to the doctor for their annual checkup. I was primarily concerned with my son's eating habits. His BMI is under 3% and he is extra picky about his food. The doctor asked me how much juice I give my son. Oops! I give him four or five cups a day. She told me that was why my son is not having a good appetite. So now I have to give him 4oz of juice a day and give him pediasure. To be honest, I don't think that boy will ever fatten up! He has always been skinny. He is a skinny but tall boy and otherwise healthy. He spends his day pretending to be in a light saber battle. I am sure he gets a good workout.

It will be difficult, but I will try to cut down on his precious juices!!

Perverts in the Park

2006-05-13T14:56:00.000-07:00

I took my two young children to Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, TN. The weather was nice and sunny, and the river was beautiful. In one part of the park there is a fountain where children can play. Many children were wearing bathing suits. I forgot about the fountain, so my kids and my niece got their clothes real wet. We noticed a man sitting on a concrete turtle watching all of the children running around in bathing suits and wet clothes. He did not have children with him, he just sat there, sitting on the turtle for an hour. My husband finally found a policeman, and the policeman scared the man away. The policeman told me that several people had complained about the man and that there were a couple of other men there watching the children. This sickened me and scared me. Can our kids go anywhere and be safe from sick eyes?

My Prenatal Cradle

2006-05-13T14:51:00.000-07:00

My prenatal cradle is the best! I pulled a ligament in my side last night doing laundry. I had trouble walking and limped most of the night. I humbled myself today and put on my prenatal cradle. I was able to enjoy the day at the park with my two young children, even walking to a nearby ice cream store. (though an award should go to my sister-in-law, due in 15 days!! She did great!!)

The prenatal cradle holds your tummy from your shoulders rather than from your back, so it doesn't hurt my lower back at all.

I feel free again!! I can walk without pain!

For more info or just to see a picture- www.prenatalcradle.com

A Great Chocolate Fix

2006-05-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been craving chocolate. Candy bars hurt my teeth because of my fillings. I can't drink chocolate milk beacause I am lactose intolerant. So, I found alternative ways to feed my chocolate cravings.

I mix lactose free milk, Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix, and ice together. Mmmmm, that was good. I also drink chocolate Boost. That way I get my chocolate and vitamins at the same time.

I still use the bathroom all night, and my legs and back are in pain. Can't find a solution to that. I do try to walk more during the day.

Sleep Finally!!

2006-05-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

I finally got to sleep at 2AM last night. The strange thing is that I forgot to take my prenatal vitamin. My legs did not hurt at all and I had a peaceful night. I wonder if prenatal vitamins can cause restless legs. I usually have high iron in my blood.

I also have been drinking Boost. Boost is great and helped me through my last two pregnancies.

Last night the kids had a movie night with their Papa. I went to Walmart and bought my Boost and ate a delicious doughnut. Yes, I had a major chocolate craving.

The kids are doing great and are now excited about the new baby. My two year old son pats my stomacha and says "baby". My 4 year old daughter wraps a blanket around my belly because she says the baby loves blankets. We are still debating a name. We need a good Turkish or Arabic name. That is difficult being in America.

Restless Legs Syndrome

2006-05-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

I am writing this post at 2AM. Yes, I have insomnia caused by restless legs syndrome. I feel like I have bugs crawling in my legs and that my bladder will explode any second. I use the bathroom every ten minutes and usually nothing happens. I just FEEL like I need to go.

I did some research online and discovered that pregnancy can cause secondary restless legs syndrome. It is caused by hormone changes and an iron defenciency. It can also get worse after drinking caffeine.

I have been faithfully taking my prenatal vitamins, eating healthy, and refusing caffeine. However, it doesn't seem to get any better. I hope the doctor can recommend some exercises, though because I have an inflamation of the tailbone, yoga is out of the question.

They need to teach teenage girls all these things a pregnant woman has to go through. I never knew you could have so many problems being pregnant. If girls knew the truth, the teenage pregnancy rate will surely drop. I have pulled ligaments, an inflamed tailbone, restless legs syndrome, extremely sore breasts, insomnia, and backaches. Not to mention the stuffy sinuses. Every pregnancy gets worse. I don't see how some women can have 16 children. My body is already giving up.

Well, as you can tell, I am grumpy and tired and wish these legs would let me sleep!!!

Good night!!

Ultrasounds not always an excting experience

2006-05-09T22:52:00.000-07:00

You might see that I posted that I have had three ultrasounds. That is because during the first one the doctors found a choroid plexis cyst in the brain. This of course frightened my husband and I. We were depressed for two days. I did a bit of research and found out that it will fade away by the 24th week. I was still required to do a level 2 ultrasound. The specialist assured me that it will go away and that otherwise the baby is developing well.

It still will be a scary few weeks until I go for another ultrasound in June. For the first time, I see the negative side of ultrasounds.

Instead of the excitement, you worry about your baby's health. I have heard worse things than this. I would hate to be the nurse to have to tell a mother her baby has a serious defect or other disease.

http://choroidplexuscyst.org/ is a website designed to support parents who have been told their child has choroid plexus cysts. The owners of the site point out their daaughter who had the cysts while in the womb was born perfectly healthy.

It's a Boy!!

2006-05-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

After three ultrasounds, I finally found out that I am having a boy on September 5.

Second Trimester. . .No Sweat!

2006-04-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

I am in my second trimester. The second trimester is the easiest time of pregnancy, at least for me. I have lots of energy and can eat a lot without feeling too sick. However, there are some problems. . . some real embarrassing problems.

Right now my problem is excessive sweating. I have to turn up the air and sit in front of a fan. If I don't I will sweat until it literally hurts. No more synthetic fabrics! I now have to stick to cotton clothing and socks. Even flip flops and sandals make my feet too hot. I prefer to wear socks.

I thought I was strange until I read in a pregnancy magazine about others excessively sweating. There wasn't a lot of suggestions but the magazine did suggest lots of water.

I know I need to drink a lot of water, but I am so tired of using the bathroom every thirty minutes or so. This is especially tiresome at night.

So I am going through the uncomfortable trials of the second trimester, but hey, at least I am not going through the first or third!!

I finally go to the doctor on Thursday. I hope and pray I will receive my first ultrasound.

Third Child Panic

2006-04-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that the third child would be easier. It is not. I realize that it is harder to connect with this pregnancy than with the others and I rarely feel it move. I am at 17 weeks though. I also have that fear that after having healthy pregnancies one right after another, this one might not be so healthy. Especially after witnessing so many friends go through miscarriages and still births.

I am desperate to get an ultrasound. I wish I could get one weekly to make sure my baby is ok. I know you can buy a heart monitor to check on the baby's heartbeat. It drives me crazy not knowing what is going on in there!

I asked my mother, who has five children, if this is normal. She told me she had the same feeling with her third. She said you are so busy caring for your other two children you don't notice the baby move as much and after a while you begin to panic when you can't remember feeling your baby move.

There isn't much written about the third, fourth, or fifth pregnancies and the new challenges you face with each one. I can honestly say though that it doesn't neccessarily get easier!

A name

2006-04-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

I joined the site notjunior.com. The website helps you decide what to name the baby. Then everyone can vote on it. A kind of American Idol for naming your baby. That is how the website describes itself.

So far I like the names Hana and Layla. I also like Alena as well. For boys, gosh, I don't know. So far I like Aydin, but I think that sounds a little too wimpy.

Wish me luck!!

pregnancy poll

2006-04-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

What do you think it will be? What size? When will it be born?

This is what I have so far.

JJ Boy 7'15 22in September 22
Melissa Girl 8'0 20 in September 15
Sarah Jane Girl 7'13 20 in September 25

Modesty in Maternity

2006-04-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

I am having a difficult time finding maternity clothing. It seems that the current trend in maternity clothing is low cut and tight. I went to Motherhood maternity and could not find one shirt that covered my growing bosom. Instead of being flattering, I looked like I was hanging out my clothes. I can imagine at 9 months, the shirts would be so tight that you can see the baby's foot moving under the shirt!

I used to love maternity clothing. Of course, in the past, I was pregnant in the winter. I had nice jackets, slacks and shirts. I thought I looked better pregnant than not.

This year, no luck! I have two small children and really don't feel comfortable with my chest falling out of my clothing. I really don't want to spend all summer wearing baggy T-shirts and jogging pants.

If anyone knows of a place that sells MODEST maternity clothes please let me know. Remember, I want to bend over without worrying about showing what kind of bra I have on to the world.

Addicted to the Due Date Predictor

2006-04-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

I am one of those people who just can't remember what week of pregnancy I am in. People always ask and I think that I have been saying "13 weeks" for the past month. I should be a veteran by now. This is, after all, my third child.

I am doing better. For the first time I know the exact date of the first day of my last period. The only reason why I know that is because I wrote to my husband in an email dated December 16 warning him that I just started my period. For once I know the exact date of something and proudly tell my doctors. They must think that I really keep up with that sort of thing.

So at least I have one exact date. Every week or so I go to americanbaby.com and put in the first day of my last period to figure out which week I am on. Congratulations! I am on my 16th week of pregnancy. I have been telling everyone 14 weeks.

I still feel horrible and am extremely hungry. This baby has a huge appetite. The doctors think the due date of September 22 might be wrong. I won't find out until my ultrasound next month.

I will write 16 weeks on the calendar this time, so that I can tell people the CORRECT date.