Hey girls!
I'm popping in to try and catch up while Ethan naps and before our ultrasound at 2 today! I'm so excited to see our little guy again and get some official opinions on his current size, the kidney issue and our prognosis from there. Then, tomorrow I go to my OB only I see the new dr. in the practice, so I am planning to keep my questions to general ones as would rather discuss specifics with my own dr. It's just a hunch at this point, but at this moment, I sort of feel like we may end up being induced again (based on his size; hopefully I can avoid BP problems this time around). We know I was able to deliver a 7.5 pound baby, but I'd rather not push it much beyond that!
and my dr. is very adamant about inducing past a certain size... so we shall see. It's not my preferred path, but neither is ending up in c-section if I can avoid it. My epidural did not fully take the last time and I am frightened of the idea of having to be rushed to an emergency section without solid pain blocking. So I'm hoping to have a better feel for how things may go, after this week's appointments. I'll update after today's if the dr. tells us anything noteworthy.
Happily, Ethan went back to the ortho yesterday and was cleared to take off his boot. He is one happy little boy to be free of that thing LOL!
So glad to see Beth and Jules back! I will write to Laura and CJ and try to encourage them to come back as well. I love our group but like all of you, miss our other ladies too!
Jules and Beth, man colds are the WORST. I think one of the funniest descriptions of that phenomenon that I've ever heard comes from Vicki Iovine, the author of the "Girlfriend's Guide" series of books. She said whenever she comes down with something, her husband gets it worse. So she said something like "if she gets bronchitis, he gets pneumonia... because while he might otherwise be expected to lovingly care for his sick pregnant wife, no one would expect a man at death's door with pneumonia to take care of a chubby woman with a little bit of a cough!"
I STILL laugh when I think about that story! Hope both husbands are well soon!
Jules, on the textures, you may recall Ethan could not tolerate ANY textured food until well after his first birthday. I was really getting worried, but his dr. kept assuring me he would gobble foods down when ready. So DON'T stress over it like I did! Just keep offering, but if she refuses it, know that it's probably just that she is not ready for textures. And that's totally fine! Once Ethan WAS ready, he took off chowing down and now regularly shoves three goldfish in his mouth at one time
Just know it will happen when she is ready. Things I started him with were (per dr. advice) soft, not crunchy - so tiny pieces of cheese, banana, cooked carrot, noodles, peas, things like that. Soon he was able to eat rotisserie chicken (which he LOVES) and things like berries, cheerios, etc. These days he eats most anything, but I still watch the bite size.
Beth ,I'm so sorry about your knees honey! (and your tailbone!) One of our executives at my former job had a knee replacement, and I know it's not an easy recovery, but he does feel MUCH better now. And how exciting that you will be TTC!!! I'm SO happy to hear that!
can't wait to see the new photos!
Anna, so sorry Jo is sick again. I feel your pain completely because I just know we'll be in for another round of it this fall and winter with Ethan. He loves the mornings at church so much and I hate to deny him the socialization... I just wish it didn't come with GERMS! And don't hesitate to go with your gut on the daycare thing. There are MANY daycare options and you should not have to stay at a place you don't feel 100% comfy with. So happy to hear the move went well and so excited to see pics when you feel like sharing some!
Bek and Steph, I'm so sorry about the teething/sleeping issues! I wish I could offer helpful advice here, but what we did may not work for everyone. I think I honestly just got blessed with a GREAT sleeper and we never had to go through the business of rocking him to sleep each night (except in the very early newborn days where we would rock during night feedings). My little guy is like his mommy - LOVES his bed (when he is tired) and happily goes there as long as it's that time of day! Even my mother in law is baffled as to how we set up such a great sleeper, and I keep telling her it's not anything I did...God just knows that this particular girl does NOT do well on no sleep!
So, while we do have many nights where he wakes us, we rarely intervene and he usually goes right back to sleep. He did go through a phase maybe 7-10 months where he would wake up looking for his paci, and be unable to find it himself, so we kept having to go in, but that was all he wanted (no rocking needed) and we were both thankful when he learned to locate it himself!
I wish you both lots of love and hugs and sympathy as I know it SUCKS to have your sleep so disrupted. I know I'll be miserable again during the newborn phase and am just hoping I can keep better perspective this time - knowing there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Bek, I would not stop until you find a pediatrician you are completely comfortable with... that relationship is far too important for you to have to settle for someone whose philosophy (or even personality - like me with the Dragon Lady dr. in our practice - doesn't match yours well). I'd insist on an explanation from the dr. if they disagree with your proposed choices - in fact, the one thing I will grudgingly give Dragon Lady is that, when she found out Ethan's leg was actually broken, she was calling me DAILY and giving me her cellphone (and answering when I called!) to check up on him and follow how things were going with the ortho. I think she knew she missed a big one, but still... I was surprised at the level of service LOL! So don't stop shopping docs till you are 100% satisfied. There are too many available to settle. And good luck with the party this weekend!! I can't WAIT To see pictures!
Steph, how did it go with your friend doing relief duty during the night? That is really sweet of her and I know you are probably relieved to get some good sleep! I really sympathize because I too get positively rageful and feel completely unable to control my emotions when I am so exhausted. You DO have to take care of YOU, too. It is hard for us to manage that sometimes but it must be done. I hope you got some rest and can work out a weaning plan; Anna's sounds great!
Flutterbee, how are you doing honey? We miss you!
Okay girls, I'm off to get things ready for our appt this afternoon. EThan should wake any time and I need to get some lunch into him before we go.
Love and hugs!
She is on stage 2 solids and chows down like a fiend, but anything with texture in it? Forget it! 
For me it was hard to breathe too near the end - but you look oh-so-cute with that belly mama! 
Halloween through New Years is mine and my husbands favorite time of year and we will be going all out with the decorations this year!!
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the husband ignores them unless death is imminent. 
he seems fine otherwise and there haven't been any repeats, but we are still trying to get the smell out this morning. Lovely!! I know this is only the first of many times that will happen. 
