A Tired Grouch

Woo hoo.  I've pulled off an all-nighter!  Cluster feeding.....is for the birds, in terms of sheer exhaustion!  Sean ate all night long!  If I've added correctly, he ate 12 ounces of formula from 11:45 last night to 5AM this morning!  Don't trust my math, though!  My brain feels like mashed hamburger and my patience level is nil.  Know how you know you're exhausted to the core?  You burst into tears when you think that you're out of creamer for the coffee.   It's not helping that with the wind chill today it supposedly feels like -10 degrees out there in Central MA.  I don't even want to bring my boys out today, had I been feeling better-rested I think we would all stay home! 

The surprising part is, while I was up with him, I was pretty calm and enjoyed snuggling with a cute, wide-eyed baby boy. We watched a bunch of crap on TV, mostly reruns of "That Seventies Show" and "Sabrina."  (at those hours, you take what you can get.  I feel for my parents generation, when TV went off the air after 1AM!)  It wasn't until I tagging Brian "it" at 5AM and slunking into bed that I realized how long today was going to be!  Hope we both get some rest today.....as soon as I get Will to the daycare I am seriously tempted to turn the ringer off the phone while Sean naps.  TGIF, everyone!

Repetition, Baby

Why is it every night, sitting down to watch TV with Will, it's one of the same three episodes of The Backyardigans?  I know that toddlers love repitition, but seriously!!  :)  I know them from memory....the "secret Agent" one, the whodunnit mystery and the one with the mermaids.  He loves it though, so I'm just along for the ride! 

Party all the Time

Uh...today's gonna sting. 

Sean's a dear sweet baby....who's going through a little growth spurt and loves the nightlife!  I've told him that Mom and Dad are essentially boring people, but he faithfully stays up to catch reruns of bad TV while looking for the action.  Mommy got to go to bed today as Daddy was getting up for work at 6am!  Ah well, as Moms know, "on the good days you get a shower,  On bad days it's a messy ponytail and an extra layer of deodorant."  :)

Has anyone invented a coffee IV yet??

Yes, Mommy is Alive, Dearest....

I got out of the house today!!  My first trip other than daycare or something medically related since the New Year.  Seriously!  Brian sent me out on my own for a little while and told me not to hurry.  And it turns out to be just what I needed.  I kidded as I left that I was going to check in a hotel and sleep and order room service.  Instead, I took his car and drove out to the local plaza for some retail therapy at Michael's.  I've got a lot of projects lined up, a lot of babies being born this Spring and gifts to knit!  Plus my aunt had given me a gift certificate for my birthday....which is always appreciated by a craft hoarder!  Afterwards I brought my knitting over to Barnes and Noble to sit in the cafe and have a fancy coffee drink and knit a few rows on the last square I have left until I can sew together a gift for a friend who's due with a baby girl next month.  But one glance told me that it was way too crowded for knitting, so I just got two coffees to go and headed home.  That may not sound like much of an outing to the average person but to me it was simply exhilirating.  I came home more relaxed and refreshed, which is definitely a good thing.  When I walked through the door, Will came running and said "Mommy!!!!  You're alive!"  Yes baby I am, and I don't know what would have made you think otherwise!

So far it's been an interesting weekend....I finished the first season of True Blood, I'm going to finish knitting that last square for the baby blanket (and then they'll need to be sewn together, and I stink at that) and I'm probably going to finish a book as well.  (Terry Fator's "Who's the Dummy Now??")  That's a lot for one weekend, considering the juggle of two kids!  We're adjusting well around here, though it has been with it's overwhelming challenges at times!

We've had lots of company the past few days as well.  Friends, coworkers, and tomorrow, family.  Things sure are busy, but that's the way I like it!

Dreamin'

Will's reaction to the Summertime Wordless Wednesday?  He has begged on more than one occasion to go and play in his sandbox.  Nevermind that there's a ton of snow in the backyard, we MUST find it!!  Distraction via play-doh and watching the Disney Channel are helping, but I'm afraid if he gets in the backyard he'll start digging for it.

Perhaps he's feeling the same cabin fever that I am.  I've pretty much been nowhere but home since the New Year.  Sure, a hospital stay, doctor's appointments, etc.  But nowhere else.  I've either been busy or too tired.  I think I'll have to remedy that this weekend, even if it's just a 20 minute trip to the grocery store or something.  Sean's been doing really well, but yesterday he was quite fussy and the only place that he would fall asleep and STAY asleep was on me, wrapped up in a blanket!  Needless to say, I watched a lot of "That 70's Show" reruns yesterday and meals consisted of anything I could reach with one hand!  I am getting pretty good at typing with one hand, though.

Plus I looked around the house this morning and I'm wondering, how the heck did it get so cluttered and messy??  Baskets of unfolded laundry, a pileful of dishes, toys on every surface....I knew the house was going to go to Hell when we brought Sean home but it's starting to bug me.  So today, I'm dreaming.  Dreaming of a fairy housekeeper, instead of a fairy godmother.  Oh, and a shower.  A shower would be nice.  Since both kids are home with me, the shower will oly be able to be accomplished if I bring Sean into the bathroom in his bouncy seat and Will cooperates by watching the Sprout Channel so I can get in a five-minute shower.

Time to stop dreaming and get to doing.  20 minutes of cleaning and a shower ought to do it.  And I have company coming today, my friend is bringing sandwiches for lunch and her toddler son to play with Will!  And hey, it's Friday!!  Brian will be home all weekend!  Gotta have things to look forward to.  :)

Wordless Wednesday: Missing Summertime

Maiden Voyage

Today I resolve to get out of the house.

I haven't left the house to go anywhere other than a doctor appt or the hospital since 1/8!  Sean has a weight check and I have a blood pressure check this morning, and naturally, it's snowing outside.  These are the perils for having a baby during a New England winter.  It doesn't look too bad out there.  Plus Will is going back to daycare today, he's very excited to "introduce" Baby Sean to "Auntie."  Speaking of introductions, Joey the dog came home yesterday and the first thing he encountered was Mommy holding Baby Sean.  I expected him to be like "What the hell Mommy!  I go away for a week and you bring home another one!"  Quite the opposite.  He sniffed him all over and then settled down next to me on the couch.  Later on, Sean started to cry in his crib and Joey started whining to let me know.  I think he forgot that babies cry, pretty soon he'll just sigh and close his eyes like he did before!  It was nice to have his company for the 1AM feeding though.  :)  And I've discovered one of my favorite parts of the day....when Will runs into our bedroom in the morning for "snuggle and TV time" and Sean gets hungry at the same time.  I fed Sean in bed so he was in my arms, Will was by my side and Joey was curled in my lap.  Beautiful.

The sleep deprivation, although definitely present, hasn't been nearly as bad this time around.  Maybe it's because I went into it this time knowing what to expect.  NOTHING prepares you for the first time around, am I right??

This week I'm starting to get company too, including some friends that I haven't seen in a long time.  Looking forward to it.  :)

My Favorite Outfit

One cool thing about having two kids of the same gender is that you get to re-use clothes that you already have.  :)   This blue outfit was one of my favorites with Will, and now Sean gets to be cute in it!

Will @ 1-2 weeks

 

Sean @ 1 week

Names and Numbers

When Will was first born, we screwed up sometimes and called him Joey, who is the dog.  Well, Joey was the baby of the family before Will so it definitely makes sense.  Now that Sean's here, we accidentally call him Will all the time!  I feel slightly guilty about it, but I think I'll be harder on myself about it when I'm less tired.  :)

So Kid #1 and I are up on Saturday, toasting bagels and watching "The Fresh Beat Band."  Daddy is in bed from taking Kid #2's late-night feeding.  Kid #2 will be up shortly and looking for food.  Kid #1 is demanding to know why Kid #2 isn't up yet, and wants to dance in his bedroom and play video games, and wants a cereal bar and a banana with his bagel.  Wow, he is eating so much lately!  Grandmom and Grandpop are visiting from Philly as well. 

Welcome to my new life.  :)

Our Family of Four

Just some pictures from the past couple of days.....Mom is behind the camera of course, snapping photos of her boys!

Sean's arrival on 1/10/10

I'm going home!

Striking a pose on Mommy and Daddy's bed

Will's happy to hold Sean

Loving Big Brother

Here's my boys!

Say Hello to Sean

Sean Michael was born on Sunday, January 10, 2010!  Weighing in at 6lbs 9.2 oz, 20 1/2 inches long! 

His birth story is eerily similar to his big brother, Will's.  Both boys weighed approximately the same, were the same height, and both births were induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia.  However, his labor was shorter overall than his brother's, with seven minutes of pushing versus four hours!

Will has spent a couple of days with his Nana and Papa, but met Sean on Sunday night.  He was completely nonplussed, although I was impressed that he wanted to share his best friend in the world, Brown Doggie, with his brother.  After the initial meeting though, he was all about running around the hospital room, inquiring about my IV pole, asking for some of my lunch and being inquisitive.  Daddy is going to pick him up in a little while and we'll be complete as a family of four! 

I'm looking forward to blogging about my boys.  Right now I'm going to take the next few days getting acclimated to my new role as mom of two boys and all!  Pictures soon...

On Behalf of Preemies Everywhere....

In my Christmas stocking this year there was a Target giftcard, that my husband had gotten because of some rebate or something.  It's been sitting on my desk at home since Christmas, and I've hemmed and hawed about what to do with it.  Like most people, I love Target, and would probably have no problem selecting a dozen things to spend my giftcard on.  Then, when checking out some of the blogs that I keep up with this morning, I knew exactly what to do with it.

I've been following a blog for probably a year and a half now called Confessions of a CF Husband. and I know a few of my blog-friends do as well.  The blog focuses on the life of a family where the Mom has Cystic Fibrosis and their daughter, Gwyneth, was born prematurely.  They're celebrating Gwyneth's second birthday by "reverse gifting."  They're collecting preemie baby clothes to donate to the hospital where Gwyneth was born, and to another medical facility that has treated Gwyneth for the past two years.  This is a beautiful blog that I have really enjoyed following for the past eighteen months.

I have a soft spot for premature babies, as I was one myself.  I weighed 2lbs 2 oz when I arrived a month early in December, 1976.  Back then, there WERE NO preemie clothes or diapers or anything else.  My mother has told me about how they had to cut cloth diapers for me to wear.  I have friends who have had premature babies and they were difficult to find clothing for when I went shopping.  The idea of clothing being donated to these families and having just one less thing to worry about at a tumultous time in their lives.....and celebrating your child's second birthday by doing this....it's a beautiful thing!

Happy Birthday, Gwyneth!  Nate and Tricia, hope there are a lot of preemie clothes to donate as part of the celebration!

Hooked on True Blood

I finally took the time to watch the first disc of Season One of True Blood.  Why haven't I been watching this show!!!  The only disappointing part is that the first disc had just two episodes on it.  Now I have to wait for the Netflix Fairy to bring the second disc, and that's probably not til tomorrow!  (waaahhh)  Maybe when I return my library books today I'll see if they have Season One.  Of course, then the rest of my day will be spent in front of the TV and ignoring the Christmas Ornament Explosion in my dining room.  We took down the tree this week, but have yet to put everything back in its boxes.  "cause that sounds about as fun as watching paint dry.  I'd much rather take in the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse!

Wordless Wednesday: Building a Crib

 

 

Rest Up

I went to the doctor yesterday for my regular weekly checkup and one of my ultrasounds.  Everything's looking great for 37 weeks.....except my blood pressure is slightly elevated. Not really high, but elevated enough to keep an eye on,  that the doctor had her assistant take it a second time to make sure the numbers were correct. And then decide that I couldn't work anymore until after the baby is born.  What's that you say????  Modified bed rest??  Shucks, no trudging in the snow, fighting with Will to get him off to daycare and being at least half an hour late every day.   Running back and forth between two sites, "putting out fires."  Stressing out that it just never seems to get done and it's "always something."

So I'm on modified bed rest until Baby's born.  The blood pressure could be caused by a multitude of things....the cold meds I had been taking, stress, or possibly preeclampsia.  I had that with Will, and had to be induced two weeks early because of it.  I don't have any other symptoms of preeclampsia (swollen hands/feet, blurry vision, mind-shattering headaches, protein in my urine) but they did bloodwork just to be sure.  If it ends up being preeclampsia, then it is what it is.  I know what to expect, and that everything will be fine.  If not, I'm living every pregnant woman's dream, being able to relax until Baby comes.  When that will be is the mystery!  I'm definitely ready, my hospital bag is packed and on the bedroom floor. 

So this morning, I got up later than usual, then snuggled with Will for a little bit.  I made him breakfast and we sat in the family room, both wrapped up in a blanket.  He seems to enjoy the extra attention from a relaxed Mom, and I'm certainly enjoying the extra time with my Munchkin!   He's really improved over the last week or so...there's been a lot less hitting and he overall seems happier.  I don't really know what to expect when we bring Baby home, I know what I hope for and what may happen are two different things!  For now, I'm going to enjoy whatever time I have left with Baby in my belly, and my big boy on the couch.  :) 

Yarn Stashing=Danger Ahead!

I knew that I loved Ebay for a reason!

Ok...I was on Ebay today looking for something Winnie the Pooh for my nursery.  I did find what I was looking for rather quickly, and then decided to have a wee bit of fun.

I had planned on making all sorts of handmade (mostly knitted) Christmas gifts for this past Christmas, and it was a major failure.  I came close to finishing two different gifts, one of which I won't mention because I'm saving it as a first anniversary gift.  (it was supposed to be a wedding gift, then a Christmas gift, now a first anniversary gift.  Whatever!)  Anyway, I had chosen a ball of blue sparkly mohair yarn from my yarn stash on Ravelry to make my aunt a one-skein scarf as a Christmas gift.  One skein, my eye!  On Christmas Eve I sat down to finish it, because y'know, there's no time like the present to finish something like that.  And I was freaking out because I was running out of yarn.  No way was I running out on Christmas Eve to find another skein!  Not only that, I had bought this yarn a couple of years ago so there really is no chance of matching up dye lots.  So last week, I was in Michael's with the guys and went looking for this particular yarn.  No go.  So just for fun, I typed in "Lionbrand Moonlight Mohair Glacier Bay" in Ebay's search engine.  Voila!  Lots of it, and for cheaper than I had originally paid!  So now I have another skein in the mail to me, and I didn't have to venture all over God's Green Acre to find another skein!

So then I typed in "Noro Kureyon" and "Lamb's Pride" just to see what's out there.  Wow!!!  I had to physically restrain myself.  I'm a "touch it before I buy it" kind of gal when it comes to yarn, so I'd never buy a yarn on Ebay that I wasn't already familiar with.  But just knowing that there's a world of yarn on Ebay just clicks away....that's dangerous information!  :)  Luckily I can hold back.

I also got a couple of knitting books from the library the other day.  One rule I have for myself is that I must check out a knitting book from the library first to make sure I reaaalllly have to have it, unless it's a gift.  I got "Domiknitrix," "The Yarn Harlot" and "Knitgrrrl."  I flipped through "Domiknitrix" on Friday morning over coffee in a little bit of alone time and I'm glad I didn't buy it.  It did have some good tips but the patterns really aren't anything I'd ever make.  "Knitgrrrl" is written more for teenage girls, but it had some great ideas, good online links for help AND I think I might have had a breakthrough on how to do seed stitch.  I'm dying to make Stitch n Bitch's "Big Bad Baby Blanket" but every time I try to cast on and do a seed stitch all my stitches get tangled and it's a huge mess.  I'm going to play with "Knitgrrrl" at my side with some yarn to see if I've figured it out in my head.  Which brings me to the "Yarn Harlot" book.  I heart this book, and I need to add it to the list of books that I need to own!  This woman....her sense of humor alone is worth the book, especially with her comments about having a yarn stash! 

Ahhh....I love knitting.  :)

Sleep Deprivation Bootcamp

I'm in Sleep Deprivation Bootcamp.  Getting ready for the "Main Event," I now wake up at least three or four times a night.  Most of it is to cough from this nasty cold, or try to figure out a comfy position to sleep in, or pee AGAIN.  Sometimes it's the hair-rasing heartburn that I'm experiencing, although switching from Tums to Zantac appears to have helped.  I imagine that it's getting me used to getting up to a hungry babe.  Still, I feel like there's a drill instructor in my face, screaming at me not to sleep.  Pretty soon, that drill instructor will be replaced by someone much more demanding!  In the evenings, I start to drift off in my living room chair, and fantasize about getting into bed around 7pm.  Today I'm officially considered full-term, so Baby Boy could make his debut anytime!

Smug...and now Sick

I managed to dodge it for two weeks.  First, two co-workers had it, and one required antibiotics.  Then Brian got a nasty bug around my birthday.  And I thought I was soooooo smug.  Nope, it's found me.  I hate being sick, especially when there's not much I can do about it!! Plus I'm sooooo close to the end of this pregnancy!  A few more weeks and I could've had the good cold meds and ibuprofen.  Ah well, such is life I guess.  I'd much rather be sick now while Baby Boy is safe inside and not at risk of catching it.  Hope I'm a fast healer this time around.  :)