Surgery

It's official. Every one of us is having surgery this year. Brian gets new tubes next Friday. And an adenoidectomy. Shawn has his sinus surgery on March 10th. The new baby will be delivered via c-section, which kind of counts as surgery for him or her and definitely counts for me. Awesome!

It's going to be a busy few weeks. Monday I will be half way through my pregnancy! Tuesday we find out the sex. Thursday is Brian's pre-op appointment with the pedi. Friday is his surgery. The house is going on the market somewhere in there too.

Then the next week we start round two with Shawn's surgery. Oh the joy!

I really am glad about both surgeries actually. If BOTH boys would stop snoring I might get some sleep.

Baby Elmo Update

We have been so busy trying to get the house ready, that we were a little late in taking the 18.5 week bump picture. We took it last night, and today I am 19 weeks. Poor second child...


So, what's new with Baby Elmo? He or she is moving around like crazy! Shawn still hasn't felt it, but he could it we could time it right. I can feel it on the outside now, so I know others could too! We find out the gender a week from tomorrow! Woo hoo! I have decided to get my nails done either hot pink or electric blue. The preschoolers will enjoy that.

I am feeling pretty good. Tired, but with Brian running around that's to be expected! I am dizzy most days. With Brian the dizzy only happened if I got up really fast, but this time it seems like it's pretty constant. I am trying to drink lots of water to fight off the dizzy.

We should have the house on the market in the next two weeks and that is exciting. We have to get a bigger house so baby Elmo will have a room!

A Glimmer of Hope

Last night Brian started something that I am taking as a glimmer of hope that he will accept being a big brother in a few short months. Bibber bought him a boy baby doll for Christmas and last night he took an interest in it. He carried it around, put it's pacifier in it's mouth over and over, took it's hat off, put it back on and even tucked the doll into his bed, kissed it goodnight and turned out the lights. This morning it continued. We had to take the doll to school with us. So cute!
And here's that 16.5 week bump picture I promised last week. I don't see any difference between this and the previous picture. Except the Bengals pants!



Two weeks until we find out the gender of baby Elmo!!!

A Quick Update

Just a few updates...

* Brian has finished his antibiotic and is still tugging at both ears. He's more like himself though. Things actually got worse before they got better. He had two MAJOR screaming tantrums mid week...grabbed his ears and fell to the floor. Poor little man. I called the ENT the next morning and the nurse said to start motrin 2-3 times a day. That gave him great relief. He started napping and eating again! But he's still tugging at those ears. I am going to call the ENT on Monday. I am thinking maybe 4 more weeks is a bit too long to wait to decide about tubes and adenoids.

*Had a visit with the OB on Friday. We got to hear baby Elmo's heart rate again. It was between 140 and 145. We find out the gender on March 1st!!! I am feeling movement when I am really still, but not all the time yet. I have gained about 7 pounds, which is pretty much on track. We took a 16.5 week belly pic, but it's still on my camera.

*Brian "spilled" a sprite on my laptop. The keyboard is shot. The new one will be here Monday. I am typing this on my mom's laptop. We are staying at my parents' house tonight because...

*Our wonderful friends and family (and my mom's wonderful friends) came over last night and today for a painting party. Our kitchen, hall, and master bedroom are now "neutral." Our house looks like we don't live there. All of my collectibles are boxed up, all pictures of Brian are down and the colors on the walls are totally not ones we would pick. BUT we are getting much closer to having the house ready to put back on the market. There are still some things on the list that were suggested by the realtor, but we're getting there!

And because of the painting party I am totally exhausted. Good night!

Bumpity Bump!

I made Shawn take the first bump picture tonight!

With Brian, we started at 16.5 weeks.

I am 14.5 weeks today.

And I honestly think the best comparison shot from last time to this time is 20.5 weeks. They weren't kidding when they said you pop out faster with # 2!!



And just for fun, here's a shot that Shawn took from what was clearly the wrong angle. Don't I look like a giant?! I wish my legs would grow with my belly!

P.S. Isn't it amazing how much brighter the room is 2.5 years later! New lighting and slightly lighter paint color makes a HUGE difference!

Not Gonna

This was written in December after a pretty emotional visit to my doctor. I have not been a fan of the new office yet. I am waiting to be impressed.

I'm not gonna do it again. I am not going to push the new baby out. They can't make me. Why take the risk? I don't want another year like my first year as a mommy. I don't want the new baby to spend his or her first year at Children's.

They "will consider a c-section." Well I have news for them. They don't know who they are messing with. Good luck getting this baby out any other way.

Not. Gonna. Happen.

C-sections have risks sure. But those are normal risks. Infection. Healing time is worse. Supposedly. Could my healing time really be worse than last time? I was sure I was going to have to bail out of my own brother's wedding. That's how much pain I was in. And that's how long it took to heal. So, really? A worse healing time? Somehow I don't think so.

The risks of pushing the baby out...

Forceps. Cephalohematoma. Plagiocephaly. Cranial Molding Cap. Permanent Hearing Loss. Abscess in an unmentionable place.

No thank you.

Not. Gonna. Happen.

*Updated...Shawn says I am being ridiculous and that I should just make it very clear that I want a c-section. He said we're not doing the whole "not pushing thing." It's not getting that far. So at my last appointment I made it pretty clear. I told the doctor to put it in her little computer that it's not up for discussion. I am having a c-section. End of story.

Baby Elmo

Now that the cat's out of the bag, I can finally post about Baby Elmo. Brian's little brother or sister is due July 18th! I will be 14 weeks on Monday and we're super excited!

Brian named the baby Baby Elmo at our first ultra sound. I get lots of those because I am considered high risk due to Brian's delivery. Here is a picture of the first one. Brian freaked out because he could not sit with me, so Shawn told him Elmo was on the screen. Brian said, "Oh baby Elmo." And there it is.

Here is a picture of the first ultra sound.


I also had one at 9 weeks.



And twelve weeks.
At twelve weeks we heard the heartbeat too!

We go back in February at about 17 weeks. This means that at the visit after that we should find out the gender. Yes, we are finding out. I hate surprises.

This also means that we are back in house selling mode. The house will go up the first of March hopefully. Want to buy it??

We do not have names picked out. Feel free to offer suggestions. We have a really hard time with this. In fact, we never had a girl name when I was pregnant with Brian. Good thing he was a boy! This time around we've got nada.

I am feeling fine and showing a little. With the 2nd pregnancy they say you show sooner and that has definitely been true! The first bump picture we took when I was pregnant with Brian was at 16.5 weeks. We are planning to start the bump pictures this go around next week!

I am still working out 3-5 times a week and Monday I have an appointment with a trainer to be sure I am doing the right things. I am always nervous about trying to keep my heart rate around 140. It's very hard for me to do!

So that's the news for now. As Taryn pointed out, I will have to find a new name for the blog also. Suggestions welcome for that too!