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Monday, April 4, 2011

One Month Old!

It's hard to believe that Mabelyn is one month old today. Just in the past few days, we've seen a lot of changes in her. Her cheeks are filling out, and she's awake for longer periods of time. I need to get some updated pictures because all the ones I've taken in the past week or so are while she's sleeping, and I'm sure that grandparents would like to see pictures of her very blue eyes.




I'm finally starting to feel like myself again, and it helped that I was able to wear my old jeans again on Saturday :) Of course, they are low rise and were a bit big before I got pregnant, but still! It's nice that my incision area isn't hurting as much anymore--it hurt to wear even maternity jeans for a long time because it was all so sensitive.



Steven and Michelle have adjusted well to Mabelyn, and they both like to "help" with her. Steven loves holding her, even if she's crying, and Michelle likes to burp her and help with any bottles she may get. So far, I haven't gotten the sense that they are jealous of her at all, which surprises me. They have acted out, though, especially after the last family members left and Mark went back to work. It took a while to reassert myself as an authority figure and let them know that Mommy's rules are back in effect after several weeks of grandmas and Daddy being in charge. Overall, though, they are doing better than I anticipated. It's definitely been easier going from two kids to three than it was going from one to two, and I think part of that is their age and the fact that they have each other to play with while I take care of Mabelyn.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Introducing Mabelyn Elizabeth!

Mabelyn was born on Friday, March 4 at 8:30 a.m. via c-section a couple weeks early because of low fluid/possible placenta problems. She weighed 5 lbs., 13 ozs. and was 18" long.






Thursday, February 24, 2011

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Freezer Meals

On the days that I'm not having contractions/confined to bed, I've been working on freezer meals and getting things made ahead of time for when Baby M makes her appearance sometime in March. I've been trying out new recipes, but I'm looking for more. Now that I seem to be done with the hyperemesis, I'm starting to actually cook (much to Mark's delight!).

So far, I've made and froze lasagna, taco soup, taco meat, and shredded chicken taco meat. It's a good start, but I need more ideas. I'm going to make meatballs (just thought of that one) and BBQ beef/pork for sandwiches, but that's about all I have left on my list.

I don't want to do anything too complicated since I'm still having contractions (although the antibiotic I'm on for an infection seems to really be helping in that area). I am also working around Michelle's food allergies (eggs, sesame, and tree nuts). I've been hitting different cooking blogs/recipe sites, but I don't want to waste time and money on something that I don't know if it will turn out.

If you have any easy freezer/crock pot recipes to share, I'd LOVE to have them!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Conversation at Dinner

Preface: Dinner is always a challenge at our house anymore. It generally involves at least one child refusing to eat, and for the past week or so, that has been Michelle. We don't make her a separate meal, and we don't force her to eat. If she wants to eat, though, she gets what we're having, and she can't just fill up on bread (which seems to be her favorite right now). Tonight was no different, and Michelle was a basket case.

Steven: Mommy, is Jesus happy with me when I obey?

Me: Yes.

Steven: Is Jesus happy when Michelle obeys?

Me (wondering where this is going): Yes.

Steven: Michelle, Jesus is NOT happy with you right now.

Me: Okay, that's enough. Eat your jell-o.

Lovely!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Just 70 Days To Go!

In some ways, it feels like I've been pregnant forever. That's probably because it hasn't been an easy pregnancy by any means. Most women struggle with morning sickness, but about 3%-5% have the pleasure of hyperemesis, which is the most extreme morning sickness you can imagine. At its peak, I was throwing up every time I got out of bed (despite being on two anti-nausea meds, including one that is used for chemo patients). I also had to go in and get iv fluids because I was so dehydrated.

Just about anything would trigger the throwing up--being touched (which the kids had a hard time understanding), smelling food, seeing food (even on tv), moving, and sometimes, it just happened without warning (like on the way to Bible study one day when I had to pull over to throw up in a gas station parking lot).

Thankfully, that has subsided. I rarely take the anti-nausea meds, and I'm only throwing up once or twice a week. However, I started having contractions back in November. They got worse after I carried Steven from his bed to the living room, and I ended up spending most of the following three days resting in bed. I was checked by my doctor before we left for PA, and everything looked good. I was just told not to lift the kids if I could help it.

While we were in PA, if I did too much, the contractions started up again, and then it got to the point on Christmas Day where they were just happening even if I didn't do anything. That's when we decided it would be best to get checked out at a hospital near my parents' house. Of course, the contractions stopped before we got there, but when they got me hooked up to the monitor, they were picking up Braxton Hicks contractions. It was the first time mark had heard the heartbeat since our big ultrasound in October, and he got to hear her kicking too. I'd been telling him that it felt like earthquakes in there because she is so active, and you could hear that on the monitor. Everyone who came in commented on how active she was and said that they had never heard such loud kicks (they could hear them down the hall despite the door being shut!). The midwife also said surprised by how neurologically advanced the baby was for her age :)

Mark and I were there for a couple hours, and they ran several tests and checked me again. Everything checked out okay, but they gave me two shots to stop the contractions, and they seem to have worked. I've only had a handful of contractions in the past week and a half.

We never got a clear answer on what was causing the contractions, but they think that it was a partly due to dehydration (which we don't really agree with because I had been drinking like crazy to try to make them stop) but mostly due to her insane activity, which I guess can cause contractions.

Since we've been home, I've followed up with my doctor, and everything still looks good. I am on limited activity, but I'd not on bedrest or anything. I just have to be careful not to do too much, and I really can't lift the kids (or anything else for that matter). I think I can handle that for the next 10 weeks if it keeps her from coming early!