It's official - we are expecting Baby #2! If Mara was Baby A, do we call this nugget Baby B? Dwandy 2.0? Regardless of the nickname, we are so very excited to get to know the sweet little life that is taking form.
On Friday, June 19th, as Mara and I were walking to our car from the gym, she asked [out of the freakin' blue], "Mommy, do you have a baby in your belly?" Say WHAT?! Shocked with this random question, I replied, "No," and asked her where she heard that expression or who she'd seen with a baby in her belly. She said, "Baby Lyla" (a 7-month-old baby friend of ours). At the moment she asked, I started having cramp-like pain in my abdomen and figured it was clear evidence of NO baby in my belly. Fast forward about 5 hours later; no 'evidence' presented itself to contradict a baby…took a test and - POOF - two lines instead of one! I AM PREGNANT! We'd been trying for five months and were getting a little discouraged. (Having gotten pregnant by surprise with Mara, we weren't accustomed to the roller coaster of emotions each month). I was trembling with excitement!
Maybe Mara should pick out my lotto tickets…
Similar to when I found out I was pregnant with Mara Lou, I chugged water and went to Walgreen's to buy another test just to be sure. Except this time, Mike was at work and my companion was a two-and-a-half year old who, as we looked at Father's Day cards, kept saying, "Happy birthday, Daddy!" <3
Father's Day was Sunday, June 21st, and I was planning to reveal our news to Mike as part of his gift. He'd asked for underwear (I know, I know - exciting lives we lead), so I layered his pair on top of new undies for Mara on top of a newborn diaper. Of course, I didn't make it to Sunday morning. So after dinner Saturday, I gave him his box. As he pulled out his pair and noticed Mara's, I said, "I decided to buy underwear for the whole family." After pulling out the diaper and realizing it was too small for Mara (he assumed the undies and diaper were both in reference to her, as using the toilet wasn't her jam at this point), his head jerked up, eyes wide. My, "I'm pregnant!" was met with his, "Serious?!" and a hug. !!! <3 !!!
We're currently referring to Dwandy 2.0 as "our baby" and Mara enjoys reading Ain't Gonna Paint No More and singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to her baby. She has already asked if we can take it out of my belly to see it. We are so excited to watch Mara grow as her own person and become a big sister around February 26, 2016!
To this day, when I'm sick, all I want is to be taken care of. I'm sure this stems from being a kid and having my mom come take my temperature, give me 7-Up, feed me soup, hold my hair back if I had to puke, and speak soothingly to me to help me rest. Today, I learned what it was to be on the other side of this relationship...and it made me realize how thankful I am for moms (and dads - saying mom because I am one!) who take care of us so well that we don't realize they are sacrificing their sleep, their hunger, their to-do list for our well-being.
Last week, Mara Lou was sick with her first cold. It is so tough, helplessly watching your little baby cough and breathe through a heavily-congested respiratory track. :( She is finally on the upswing, only coughing a little at night and in the morning...but another member of our family got sick last night...
As I crawled into bed around 11:45 (I can't sleep, even though I'm tired all day), Mike was tossing and turning. He said his belly hurt. By 12:30, he was making frequent visits to the bathroom. We had Pepto in the car from our drive home over the holidays (ugh, don't ask - not fun), so I ran out to the garage at 1, got him the Pepto, and spoon-fed him the pink stuff about 20 minutes before he puked it all up.. after a while, I decided to leave our bedroom and sleep on the bed in Mara's room - I knew I'd never get sleep if I kept hearing Mike get up and get sick... so to Mara's room I went. Sleep. Yes.
Mara only woke at 4:30 and then was up by 8:15. After feeding her, taking her outside to walk Shermie, playing with her, and then putting her to sleep, I checked on Mike. Poor guy was wiped - his body had completely cleaned itself out overnight. I got him some Gatorade and a straw and then proceeded to scrub down the kitchen (he had made dinner last night)...threw in some laundry because Mara likes to spit-up on everything.. and baby girl was up again. Play play play...clean clean clean...made a grocery list ...
Gymboree was at 2... Mara made it to 2:20 before she had had enough and began to cry. It was at this point I realized I had left her pacifier at home in her crib. Crap. This would make grocery shopping an even more interesting experience. As I left Gymboree at 3, I considered just going home, but I knew we had next to nothing for food. SO, I went to Target first, bought a new pacifier, and headed to Trader Joe's. Smart me, I left the frappin' paci in the car!!!! Agghhh... Mara was sleeping, so I just kept shopping. Unfortunately, Mara woke up as I was checking out. At first, she was all smiley, batting her beautiful eyes as I talked to her. That luck ran out. Cue screaming. Handled it pretty well, though, talking to Mara to [try unsuccessfully to] calm her down.
Got home, put her in her swing (where she cried), brought in the groceries, fed Mara, put the groceries away, gave Mike some saltines, started chicken noodle soup, paused chicken noodle soup because Mara woke up, consoled Mara (who kept crying), fed Mara, held Mara while trying to continue chicken noodle soup, told Shermie to please stop scratching the door I would take him to go potty after Mara went to sleep at 7:30, played with Mara, changed Mara, caved in and took Shermie out with Mara in her stroller, continued to make soup with Mara in my arms, put Mara to sleep, finished soup, ate soup, and finally ... finally... am now relaxing.
Today was the hardest day I've had as a mommy. Normally, when I'm stressed with Mara, I can talk to Mike. But with him out-of-commission and me running on empty, today became significantly more difficult!
To my mom (and dad) and ALL moms (and dads) out there in the world ... thank-you. Even as adults, we children don't know what it is to put all others' needs in front of our own until we experience it ourselves. After today's experience, I am especially blown away by single parents or parents who are often alone as they raise their family. It is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, and I have a revised sense of respect for you and all parents. Wow.
SO, I recommend you hug your mom (or dad) today...hug ANY mom or dad (that you know - don't be a creepy stranger ;) and tell them thank-you. XO
Mara Lou is nearly 11 weeks old now! Unfortunately, she's battling her first big cold. She and Mommy are both sneezing a lot with congestion, runny noses, and sore throats. Luckily, I am able to stay at home and snuggle her and rest with her and wash the bazillion outfits and toys that are contaminated with her various ... secretions.. ;)
Yesterday it was over 70 degrees here in KC! Mara and I took our first trip to the KC zoo with some other mommies and babies and had a SPECTACULAR time! Not only was the company wonderful, but the zoo is really awesome! We saw elephants, gorillas, camels, cheetahs, lions, tigers (no bears), springboks, polar bears, rhinos, crocodiles... it was excellent. 4 1/2 hours well-spent on such a beautiful January 28th day.
Mara and the Elephant!
The weather here has really been the perfect version of crazy... relatively crummy during the week and nicer on the weekends! Last weekend was warm-ish (low 50s!), so we took a nice long stroll on Sunday in Loose Park, which is only a half mile from where we live. It was lovely!
Trying to predict what Mara will look like with hair...using my hair as we laid head-to-head! If her hair-growth follows in my footsteps, she'll probably have long hair on the sides and back before she grows much on top! :)
Cutest little Wicked Witch from the West impersonation I've ever seen <3
Making dinner together! Hopefully she learns to be a good cook early on!
Love being a mommy, but here's the reality - GIGANTIC bags under your eyes, almost as deep as your love for your baby...
We're Going on a Bear Hunt is one of Mara's favorites... well, one of the only books she doesn't cry through. That and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom...
Shermie turned 4! (And the bone picture turned upside down but I'm too lazy to go through the process of turning it...)
Mara is becoming more interested in her "gym" and interacting... this was a wonderful moment when we were talking about the different animals hanging from her gym and the sounds they make. She was SO excited (kicking arms and legs, cooing - cutest thing EVER) and seemed to be listening intently to my monkey sounds. :)
You might ask, "How can Lindsay possibly have any more poop stories???"
Let me rock your world...
4:30 a.m. ... Last night ... Mara had just finished nursing ... Time to change the diaper ...
I had just cleaned up the poopy diaper, removed it, and put her A+D ointment on her little booty. As I was thanking my stars for her not pooping while I applied the gel (which I do every time - I realize I'm not in the clear for that one until she's out of diapers), Mara was wiggling happily on her changing pad. Suddenly, she lifted her bottom and SQUIRTED poop out across the room. I sh*t you not. (Yes, I intended to make that pun.) Seriously, though, it was like she had loaded a squirt gun with her feces and pumped her little Super Soaker to achieve maximum pressure before releasing her ammo. I couldn't believe it. How is that feat even possible?!?! As it happened, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my GOD!" and woke Mike up. ("Sorry, honey, didn't mean to wake you... but your daughter is a poop acrobat...a poopcrobat, if you will.")
I cleaned up as much as I could with limited light from the bathroom, but even with the Oxyclean, there was still discoloration on the floor that I saw this morning.. it's literally a line of stains. Unreal.
Always one to keep me on my toes, Mara decided to sneeze while I was changing her this morning when she woke up... along with the sneeze came more poop. Luckily, this extra little surprise didn't shoot across the room.. it just soaked her old diaper, new diaper (which was underneath/to the side of the old one), and her PJs (underneath/to the side of the new diaper). Unbelievable. Maybe I should contact the Guinness Book of World Records? Is there a category for Longest Poop Shot Out of a Baby's Butt??
Science of Rock 'n Roll
Mike, Mara, and I went to Union Station's current special exhibit, The Science of Rock 'n Roll. It was awesome! Lots of history, music, and interactive elements. You could play the guitar, piano, drums, or sing and record yourself...upload it using your "backstage pass"...and view it online later! So cool.. too bad Mara got hungry after just over an hour. I would have liked to have stayed longer and played more. :) I recommend the exhibit for anyone in the KC area! Educational and fun!
My terrible impression of Elvis... I was working hard on the legs, but Mike cut them off! At least Mara got to be part of the Hound Dog experience. :)
The Anderson Family Singers ... see our band behind us??
Big Girl @ 2 Months Old!
Mara was 2 months old on Monday, January 14th. I can't believe it! The sad part of her big day was that she had to get 3 shots at the pediatrician's office. SO, SO SAD. I knew it would be hard, but I can't erase the image of my sweet little trusting baby girl looking at me happily and then getting poked by a mean ol' sharp needle. Her eyes got huge, as she was startled, and then she just started screaming. I was holding her hands and she squeezed my fingers so tightly I thought she'd never let go. It was all I could do to not cry right along with her. I'm trying to figure out how to keep her from being traumatized by needles or the doctor, or thinking that her mommy causes her pain. :-/
A fun part of her growing up is that she's more interested in interacting. We have gone to a few Gymboree classes and she looooves looking at the other kids. She is also a fan of The Wheels on the Bus and the movements we do...although, she usually tries to eat my hands when I hold them to make circles with them... this kid is always hungry! (Maybe that's why she's a poopcrobat...) Books are a fun thing for us to enjoy, too! Here she is, reading Moo, Baa, Fa La La with me. :)
Also, reading The Giving Tree as a mommy gives an entirely new meaning to the relationship between the tree and the boy. I got choked up reading it to Mara Lou!
From an article on CNN.com: "You are more than an incubator and more than a parent. Sometimes that's hard to remember. Be true to YOU. Change is good. Change is a part of life. You will grow. You will change, but don't become what you 'think you should be' now that you are a mom." http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/08/living/pregnancy-advice-ireport/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11
From Mayo Clinic's Guide to Your Baby's First Year: "How you react to your child's temperament is a key part of parenting. Instead of looking at your child as a direct reflection of yourself or your parenting skills, try to look at him or her as a separate individual with his or her own unique perspective. This slight distance between yourself and your child allows you to look objectively at your child's needs and adapt your parenting style to meet those needs. Rather than trying to change your child's disposition, you can focus on creating the best possible environment in which your child can naturally thrive." p. 143
Both quotes are meaningful to me...I find myself sometimes stressed, wondering what other people are thinking as they watch me be a parent in public. There are so many books, parenting theories, and philosophies... and yet, they can easily make you feel like there is a right way to be a mom or dad.. which leads to you (me) questioning yourself, "Am I doing this the right way?" And as soon as there's a right way, there's a wrong way. And seeing something as a dichotomy means you have to be on one side or the other....being relatively self-critical, I typically find myself wondering if I really am on the "right-way-of-parenting" side. ......the CNN quote is a reminder to keep yourself in the daily rotation of care-taking...and the Mayo Clinic book's quote reminds me (and all moms, I suspect) that my baby is her own person, and I need to think, "What does she need?" and begin there...and be okay if she is not perfectly happy or quiet immediately following my actions.
Sorry for the rambling...but it's my blog, so I get to ramble. :)
Today, Mara and I set out to do some shopping at Trader Joe's and Target. She was adorable in her melon-colored fleece zip-up vest and ready to rock - didn't even fight me when I put her in her car seat! I threw on some actual clothes (I think my pajama pants could walk on their own by now), gave Shermie a treat, and off we went...
Ready for Trader Joe's!
Proof of her sweetness in stores...Sunday's trip to World Market :)
Mara was excellent in TJ's... she slept almost the entire time and I got to stock up on Almond Milk (YUM - Trader Joe's plain version is the only kind I like). By the way, I was the crazy label-reader during this trip...I probably could have cut my time there in half if I didn't have to read the labels, but milk proteins lurk EVERYWHERE! Ahhh, what I do for my baby to not have a hurty belly (and for me to get some rest). Anyway, as we checked out of Trader Joe's, she began to stir and as soon as we were in the car, she was crying. Luckily, Target is in the same shopping center, so our drive wasn't far. Well, Mara was quiet for about a minute once we were inside Target, and then she started crying with the full capacity of her lungs. The last time we were in Target together, she did the same thing... I don't know what she's got against Target, but it's a huge grudge, that's for sure! Fortunately, all I was buying was diapers and window shades for the car, so I was quick, but... Mara was still crying. The. Entire. Time.
She turned it up on the 12 minute drive home...I kid you not, she sounded like the alarm when they do the tests on the T.V. I didn't know human beings could even make that noise! Good God. Nothing consoled her; in fact, my voice made her cry harder, as if she was saying, "Mom, you jerk! I know you're here and you STILL won't help me!"
I'd like to say, here, that if you ever are angry with a driver for their actions on the road, consider that they may have a screaming child in their car. Maybe it will help you give the poor soul a break...Inconsolable screams can be quite frazzling.
Once to our apartment complex, I had to make the choice of whether to bring her up with the first load of groceries or keep her in the car (at the entrance to our building)... I felt like the worse mom ever as I closed the car door on my screaming baby and ran the first bags up to the apartment...
And THEN...what should I find upon entering the door????
Sweet little Shermie AND a poopy diaper on the floor!!!!!!!!
For the very first time, Shermie got into a dirty diaper and pulled it out into the living room. I was LIVID. Not only was I stressed with my screaming baby and the shame of leaving her for a second...now I was dealing with my little dog communicating that he was pissed about being left behind via stinky dipes?? Ugh.
At the end of it all, Mara got to eat, the groceries got put away, Shermie got a spank and a 1-minute time-out, and I even got some happy smiles and gurgles from my baby girl before she took a nap (which is what she is doing now...which is why I have the time to type this. ;)
I'm going to sleep SO hard tonight................................right Mara?
Eat, Sleep, and PooooooooooooooooooooooooooooP
I don't know about other children, but my little Mara is a fantastic pooper. And by this, I mean that she has dealt Daddy and me some very interesting diaper situations. Mike had a gagging experience the first time she pooped on him (though, now he's a pro at changing diapers....putting shirts/sleeper sacks on over her head? ...he's in training. :)). She's sharted on me more than I'd like to admit. I have come to accept the fact that I am currently on this blessed earth to feed my baby, change my baby, soothe my baby, and be puked/sharted on by my baby. It's fine. While taking Shermie out for a walk today, I found myself wishing I had quiet time to read a book (Mara takes naps, but that time is quickly used cleaning, cooking for myself, eating, and tending to things like bills...okay, and a bit of facebook time - I need some entertainment! :). Anyway, I caught myself craving some time for a book, and then I stopped and realized that Mara would be a big girl before I knew it...and even though I would like to fast-forward through the days/nights when she is crying from a hurty belly or times when she isn't satisfied being anywhere but in my arms, I am so happy to be her mommy and have the chance to snuggle her and kiss her until my lips tingle (it can happen, believe me!). So, that sentiment being offered, here are some sh*tty stories. ;)
Poop up the hair
Mara's first big super messy poop. She was wearing a sleeper sack (basically a long nightie - convenient for diaper-changing in the middle of the night). Before I continue, for those of you who haven't experienced Mara's poops, she is notorious for blowing out her diapers. Well, this was one for the books. She pooped out of the top of her diaper up her back. Now, this meant the sleeper sack was soaked. You know what sucks about that? The sleeper sack has to go over her head. O.M.G. - the poop was smeared up her back and even in her HAIR, people!! There was just no way around it. She was a mess. This led to her first bath (which will be discussed further in the "Mommy Fail" section...).
Chicago Poop
On our drive back to KC from Muskegon after Christmas, Mike and I made a last-minute decision to stop in Chicago. (Chicago friends who we didn't see, please forgive me - we were there for an afternoon and left the next morning at 6am.. I wish we could have seen everyone!) Our friend Laurnay was holding Mara Lou, who was wrapped in her favorite cozy pink blanky. She was fussing for a few minutes, and then... suddenly....BOOM. Long, wet, and I am sure quite a relief to Mara. We all froze and then laughed like crazy. I told Laurnay to wait a little bit, because like deer, where there's one, there's bound to be more. After 10 minutes, I tackled the diaper. Holy smokes. Thank God Mara was wearing a onesie, tights, and a cute sweatshirt-material dress (thanks Amber!).... it didn't make it through all of the layers to the blanket, so at least that was salvaged. I'm not kidding you, it took me a solid 15 minutes to change her. It's like the chicken and the egg dilemma- you need to clean her off, but as you lay her on her changing pad, it gets dirty...and as you lift her, you have to wipe her back and the pad before she relaxes back down...all the while trying to get the wipes in the dirty diaper and slip the new one under her before she pees all over the place (she flooded her changing pad at Papa Beck's house). I think she gave quite the poopy diaper initiation to some of our ChiTown Buddies. :)
Christmas Poop
Whereas Mara's layers of clothing protected her blanket in Chicago, they did not protect Mike on Christmas day. He had just opened Scottie's gift of a Notre Dame jersey and put it on when Mara let it rip while in Mike's arms. His laughing stopped when he felt warmth on his skin...and then a wetness....Suddenly, Mara was at arm's length as he held her out and realized his brand new jersey was moistened with poo. He immediately took it off, to realize his long-sleeved shirt underneath was wet, too. [Removes layer] Yes, folks, even his undershirt was stained an awesome tan color with Mara's poop spot. 3 layers. This girl has talent! Watching Mike change her on a pool table, shirtless, was almost as funny as watching her wet-poop all over Notre Dame. :)
Hobo's Poop
On our first full day in Michigan, I had plans to meet up with a friend at Hobo's. I was taking Mara and Mike was staying in GR to workout (ahem, overachiever). About 10 minutes from Hobo's (our lunch spot), Mara started screaming. I sang, spoke to her, tried the radio...nothing worked, so I let her cry it out. I figured she was hungry, since it was about that time, and told her I'd giver her a bottle upon our arrival. Well, I gave her a few ounces in the booth, and when I went to burp her, I realized her back was half-brown. Of course, I hadn't packed clothes in her diaper bag, so I had to run out to the car, grab an outfit from her suitcase, and run back in (while my dear friend held my sweet, stinky, poop-soaked baby- bless her). The changing experience was intense. I used the pull-down changing station for the first time, all the while thinking how unsanitary it was as I laid my poopy daughter on her tiny changing pad. She was pissed because it was cold and I was trying to NOT get poop in her hair as I removed her clothes. It took 10 minutes! Geez. I feel like I'm being hazed by my daughter into the Mommy Gang.
Mommy Fail
Think back to when Mara got poop in her hair...and I decided it was time for her first bath. Well, the little bath mats that my grandma got for us were still at my dad's house in Michigan, so I searched for a make-shift bath contraption. Mara's bassinet came with a little changing pad with mini stilts that support the mat when you put it on top of the bassinet. Perfect! thought me, since the stilts would keep the mat above the water in the tub so I could wash her and keep her safe. Soo, I got a clean diaper out and ready, brought in wipes in case she decided to go potty again (which, she did, but while laying on the mat as I did all this...I discovered my baby was laying in her own urine a couple minutes later...ew). I got her towel, a wash cloth, her shampoo, and a new outfit all ready... I was PREpared.
I filled up the tub, placed the mat in there, and dipped the washcloth in the water and gently wiped it over the back of her head to check her reaction. Well, she was laying on her belly with her head to the side, and her reaction was to turn her head so that her nose/mouth were facing downward. Suddenly, she wasn't breathing. The little bit of water from the washcloth was at the bottom of the mat and she had inhaled it. I picked her up and her eyes were huge, looking at me, shocked. Her arms were straight out. I threw her over my shoulder and began smacking her back, freaking out that she wasn't yet taking in air. This whole ordeal lasted maybe 8 to 10 seconds, but I swear to you, I lost years of my life in sheer panic. Finally, she coughed and took in a beautiful breath of air, which she expelled with screams as her body turned red. I immediately left the bathroom and didn't return for a day-and-a-half.
I wasn't sure if I'd share this story on here, but after talking to experienced moms, it seems we all have things like this happen to us. So, for posterity, here's my account of my personal mommy "oops." May it serve future mommies as a reassurance that everyone makes mistakes and they are still excellent mamas who are just learning the ropes one day at a time. Liam's Anatomy and Birds&Bees Lesson
Liam holding his favorite cousin :)
Ahhhh Liam... my 3 1/2 year old nephew stayed at my dad's house one night over our vacation. I had gone upstairs to nurse Mara in the guest room when Liam trotted up the stairs to see what Mara was up to (he expressed over and over to me: "I wuv her," while kissing her head - sweetest boy ever!). I wasn't wearing my nursing cover, but I decided that since all he could see was a bulge, I wouldn't scurry to cover anything up. He approached and asked what Mara was doing.
"Eating," I said...knowing there would be a follow-up...
"What's she eating?" questioned Liam.
"....milk." I replied.
"Milk?" he asked, curious...
I smiled...Oh God, I know where this is going to go....
"Is it in your belly?" he asked.
Okay, Linds, this is the fork in the road... you could reply with a yes and avert this conversation, or you can just be honest and he won't be confused when he finds out the truth later...
"No.......it's in my boobs." I said.
"Your booooooobs?!" cried Liam, giggling.
"Yep."
Liam then came around the other side of the bed, hopped up, pulled up his shirt, and said, "You be the baby - you want some milk?"
Shit.
"Well, Liam, only mommies have milk for their babies. Only mommies."
Liam looked over a minute later, glanced at my boob, and said, "You have big muscles!" HA. Well, at least I got to direct the conversation toward his muscles and not where my baby was drinking from...
About 5 minutes later, my stepmom and Liam's grandma came upstairs and sat on the bed. Liam promptly touched her arm and said, "Mimi, can I have some of your milk??" Lucy...you got some 'splaining to do....
Another moment that evening...Liam came into the room while I was changing Mara's diaper. He asked, "What's that??" pointing to her girl parts. "That's her vagina," I told him. "Does she have a peepee too?" he inquired. "No," I said, "she's a girl, so she has a vagina. Boys have peepees." Fast-forward a few hours when Mike is using the bathroom....Liam opens the door, peeks his head in, and informs him, "You have a peepee and I have a peepee because we're boys," and then leaves the room.
You're welcome, Justine. ;) When it's time for Liam to have the birds and the bees conversation, you can just call us...we're clearly experts. hahaha Parents' Night Out
For Mike's 28th birthday, I decided to give him a date night - dinner and a movie. We had asked his [awesome] co-worker to babysit Mara and we were off to Houlihan's (where I was THRILLED to try their mini martini flight - it's been 10 months since I've had a buzz...) and then were going to see Skyfall. Well, Mike had to buy dinner (that's what happens when your wife doesn't have an income) but I was excited to use a Visa gift card to buy movie tickets. We arrived to the theater to find that IT WAS SOLD OUT!!! What??? With all the new movies out, people bought all the tickets to Skyfall, which came out November 9th??? Ughhhh. So, you know what we did? We went to Blockbuster and came home early. 2 1/2 hours after we left. I felt bad for Mike's bday gift going awry, but I was also bummed we didn't get a full adult date night. This is the life of a parent, huh?
10:07 p.m.
Sweet Little Talker (video)
Here's a little clip of baby girl making noise, kicking, and being cute. (Please ignore my ridiculously high-pitched babble...she likes it best). :)
Belly Issues
Little Mara Lou still has some fussy evenings with her belly, but I have found that dairy is DEFINITELY the main culprit of her pain. We had to use some stored milk upon our homecoming after the holidays because I had taken Pepto Bismol on our ride home (mommy had some belly issues of her own) and there is something in that medicine that can be bad for babies. The stored milk was from before I knew dairy was the problem, and BOY was she in a lot of pain. Screaming. Not just crying. Screaming for a few hours. At one point, I was curled up on the bed, my head in my hands, crying right along with her as Mike took a turn bouncing her and patting her back. It was terrible. I am basically dairy-free (unless it's a tiny bit of milk or butter in a dinner recipe), and Mara's belly is significantly better.
The Surprise
Last blog post was November 13th, when I wished the doctor would just tell me, Oh, you can just have this baby now.... be careful what you wish for! While my wish came true, it was because I had developed preeclampsia. I got to my appointment and had to wait 40 minutes in the waiting room. I felt like poo. I was having a hard time breathing, my back hurt, and I felt especially exhausted. When the nurse tested my urine, it was at a +4 for protein (not a good sign)...I told her I'd had a lot of water and I didn't know why my proteins were so high, but she said my H20 intake had nothing to do with it.. then she asked how my blood pressure had been at previous appointments.."Great! Totally normal!" I responded.... only to have her take my blood pressure multiple times before informing me that it was very high. The Bish came in and checked the results of my 24 hour urine sample from the weekend (the ol' pee in the jug deal from the last post) and told me that my protein count was 3,000........and the norm was 200 for a day..... whoa. He walked over to me, smiled (as The Bish always does), and said, "I think we're going to have a baby."
WHAT?!
He told me to just walk over to the hospital (across the side street), go up to labor and delivery, and tell them he sent me. The Bish wanted to first see if my blood pressure would go down with a magnesium drip through an IV...if not, I would get induced and we'd be meeting Mara a little early!
"So, Doc, what are the chances I'm going to go home tonight?" I asked.
"Oh, I'd say about 2 percent," he replied.
"Um, what are the chances I'll have a baby in the next day?"
"About 75 percent."
Holy smokes!! I was shaking. I called Mike as I gathered my things.
"Hey babe, what are you up to?" I asked.
"I'm at the bike store about to buy a helmet," Mike said...
"Oh, that's nice... um, do you want to come to the hospital?"
"Why, what's going on?" he asked, panicked.
"Well, I have preeclampsia and we're probably going to have a baby in the next day or so."
"Are you serious?"
"Yep, I'm walking over now. Meet ya there....."
The Labor & Birth of Miss Mara Louise
I got to the hospital and, still in shock, informed the nurses that... "Doctor Bishop sent me..I have preeclampsia...and I think I'm going to be induced...?" Once in my cozy hospital gown, Mike arrived (whew) and the nurses took turns at finding my veins for the IV. Apparently, they move. Three nurses had a go at it, and after two blown veins and four attempts, they found my vein. Honestly, that may have been the most painful part of my labor experience. I even told one of the nurses in my nicest voice possible that I didn't like her (which I later apologized for, but she understood, given that she blew the two veins)...
The magnesium drip was not a success, as you probably guessed. My blood pressure stayed high. The Bish came in, broke my water (does anyone not giggle the first time this happens? It totally felt like I peed all over myself), and true labor began. At first, the contractions were absolutely bearable; I did the breathing I learned in labor class and felt like a champ....Then they gave me pitocin. The contractions were lasting 90 seconds and 2 minutes apart (that's a 30 second recovery time). Consistent with her positioning during my pregnancy, Mara had her little feet up against my ribs. While I didn't have back labor (which I hear I dodged a bullet on that one!), each contraction came with a pretty intense sensation in my ribs as everything squished down on baby girl. I lasted 2 hours, and then I asked for an epidural.
Side note: During this time, Mike was trying to juggle breathing with me, talking through a presentation with his coworker for the next day, and eating dinner. (He was truly a wonderful coach.) The only problem was...he ate Chinese for dinner...I'm not a huge fan of Chinese food, in general...well, when my sweet loving wonderful thoughtful coach of a husband came over to breathe through those intense 90sec/2min contractions with me, he breathed stinky Chinese food in my face. NOT really what I wanted. I finally said, "You need to go brush your teeth, your breath STINKS!" He laughed. I didn't. Seriously. Word to dads-to-be: If you have to eat while your wife is in labor, please keep a breath mint or gum or a toothbrush nearby. Thanks!
Back to the epidural... I am really not a fan of needles. I mean, who is? But I'm the type that has been working on not passing out while getting poked. I think it'll be a life-long crusade...anyway, I was super nervous about the epidural... oh my gosh! It was nothing! I was so happy that it was nothing, I couldn't even believe the anesthesiologist had already put it in when he announced that he was done! And ahhhhhh the relief after it took effect. I was happy and ready to meet my baby girl. I think it's amazing that women can go without the pain medication... I just am not one of those people. My goal for labor was to be happily present as I welcomed my daughter, and for me, the pain would have not made labor that experience for me.
When I began to push, I made the decision to have a mirror above me so I could watch Mara come into the world. That was the most amazing experience. Honestly, I kind-of liked labor. Now, don't get me wrong, I definitely still felt Mara come out..epidurals don't completely block the pain...but it was such an exciting thing, to watch your body work and literally produce a baby. Wow. Incredible. I didn't think I would want to see anything, but I highly recommend a mirror, for those of you ladies who think you might be interested.
The Aftermath
My stay at the hospital was a bit longer than we had planned. Instead of 2, I was there for 5 days... my preeclampsia developed into the HELP syndrome. I stayed on the magnesium drip because my blood pressure was still startlingly elevated. I was at a high risk for a blood clot that could travel to my heart and kill me. At the same time, my platelets were dropping by the day (which, contrary to the blood clot risk, could cause me to bleed out). So a blood transfusion was on the back-burner. I had to have my blood taken every 4 hours. Then, one evening, that same feeling of not being able to breathe came back (it had begun the Sunday before). It became more acute. I was stuck with another IV needle and rushed downstairs to the radiology room, where I had Xrays taken. In the middle of the night, I was sent down again for a scan of sorts (something like an MRI but it was a donut-shaped deal, not a full-body scanner). They thought I was having a blood clot. Luckily, I wasn't..but I got to wear super special (and supremely uncomfortable) compression socks that went halfway up my thighs as well as compression wraps to help prevent a clot from happening. On the bottom, I looked like a banged-up Little Bo Peep. On the top, I looked like a heroin addict. They were having a hard time finding places in my arms to draw blood because they were all bruised and the veins had been tapped out. Ugh. No fun at all. Not to mention, the magnesium drip made me feel groggy and caused me to lose my appetite. I had an EEG, an EKG, a couple X-rays, and constant monitoring. I knew all of the doctors at that hospital... people checking on my heart, my kidneys, my lungs, my liver..
The good news? My blood pressure began to go down [slightly]. And they gave me a diuretic in my IV to flush out all of the fluids, which made breathing easier because apparently, I had a ton of fluid not only built up in my limbs but around my organs. I lost 8 pounds overnight from all of the fluid leaving my body. What relief I felt! My liver and kidneys started to function normally, my platelet count began to increase...after going in on Tuesday evening, I finally got to leave on Sunday afternoon with pain med and blood pressure prescriptions. Yay!
Happy to be leaving the hospital soon!
Family time :)
The Homecoming and First Four Weeks
When we got home, I sat down with Mara and began to cry. I was SO happy to finally be home! As I cried with relief and Mike bent down to give me a sweet kiss, Mara farted really loudly! We all have our own ways of expressing our happiness, I guess. :)
Mara has completely changed our lives for the better and made us appreciate sleep like never before. She's a noisy little thing, grunting and cooing when she nurses or falls asleep. She also has a temperamental digestive system...even with gas drops, Mara still cries in pain with gas bubbles at times. I've cut out dairy milk and coffee (*tear) because they seem to be triggers... what's really funny, though, is when she does tummy time and toots. She likes to do little combos, like coughing & tooting, crying & tooting, or sneezing & tooting. Makes things more fun.
Ah, but the MOST fun is when she has explosive poops. Once, it was when she was wearing a sleeper sack (nightie) and it was all over the sack. Well, you can't just unbutton it and take it off... you have to go over the head... so she had poopy up her back and in her hair. .... That was her first bath day! Yesterday, I went to change her and said, "Please don't pee all over yourself when mommy reaches for the other diaper" (she's good at this...sometimes she pees 2 or 3 times before I get the next diaper on her...God save me if/when we have a boy!). Well, Mara respected the peepee request, but wet-pooped alllllll over her changing table. Of course, not before she sharted on my hand as I reached to wipe her. Ahh, you just have to laugh. I have been pooped on, peed on, and puked on....and showers aren't always in the cards during the day, so you can imagine how sexy I look when Mike gets home. ;)
Mara Lou is officially one month old today! I can't believe a whole month has gone by. Mike is excited for when she can walk around and play, but I look at her every day and plead with her to stop growing so fast. Time is already flying by and I don't like it! She makes the funniest faces and has the "Blue Steel" and grimace down to a T when she's awake. When she sleeps, she smiles and even laughs once in a while. I am looking forward to the day when she smiles or laughs in reaction to us!
Do your eyes hurt yet? I'll give them a break for now...next post will have some 'first-time mommy' stories about car seats and baths....and I'm sure there will be more to tell by then, too!
Apparently, I am now paying for having such a lovely pregnancy...starting Sunday night / Monday morning, I woke up with a really sore back.
Which gave way to soreness from Mara seeking solace under my ribs.
Which gave way to shortness of breath - felt like she was pressing on my diaphragm so I couldn't breathe deeply.
Basically, this all lasted consistently from about 3:30 am until noon. It was like having the flu. Ugh.
A call to The Bish (doctor) basically led me to understand that, unless the diaphragm pain worsened throughout the day, this was pretty typical discomfort related to the end of pregnancy. Well, I was able to breathe normally after a while, so I just had to deal with the pain.
Last night was SUPER fun, too... sore back, feeling like I needed to throw-up, baby under the ribs. Throw in the fact that my stomach is literally being squashed by the little human inside of me, and you get a weak mama who has to force herself to eat and drink.
Blah.
I am hoping that at my appointment with The Bish this afternoon ends with him exclaiming, "Hey, great news! You're going into labor and Mara will be here in no time!"
............. a girl can dream, can't she?? ;)
Let me end this positively with some thankfulness... I am thankful for heating pads, hot showers, the ability to stay home at this time, family members to turn to, Law&Order/Bones/Sex&theCity reruns, a healthy baby, and absolutely I am thankful for my awesome amazing wonderful husband Mike, who, at 4 am last night, woke to my tosses and turns to rub my back, get me a heating pad, and coax Mara away from my rib cage. I am so lucky. <3
So I went to the doctor yesterday..not my usual doc, since he was out, but so far anyone I've seen at the KC Women's Clinic has been outstanding. I have constantly been saying to my family that my visits have not been anything to remark upon..of course, this visit went against that statement.
First off, I found out that I'm 1cm (plus a little wiggle room) dilated and 50% effaced. I was so excited..50%! That's halfway to 100%! That's got to mean something, right?? Nope. Checked online and it means absolutely nothing except that my cervix is getting shorter. Nothing in the way of indicating Mara's arrival. Bummer.
I asked the doc if she had "dropped" and if she was in the correct position for labor (head down, facing down). Before the exam, the doctor said that most women feel a lot of pressure in their pelvis and typically waddle when they first get up if the baby's dropped. To the first descriptor, I had no reaction, but to the second, I got excited - I have totally been waddling when I first stand up from sitting or laying down! According to the exam, Mara has definitely dropped (perhaps that's why I can eat full meals these days - more room for my stomach...wahoo!).. but go figure... later last night, I began to feel CRAZY pressure. Not so comfy. Can't win 'em all, eh?
The BEST part of the appointment was after they found protein in my urine...(That's sarcasm, if it isn't communicated through the type..) Luckily, my blood pressure is normal, so it's not necessarily an issue of preeclampsia...but you know what they do to check that everything is alright? They make you PEE in a JUG for a full day! To make things easier for me, I get a little mini potty catch to pee in and pour into the jug. ........hahahahahahaha I can't believe I'm going to be doing this. Friday's the big day. Then I get to bring it in on Saturday and give them a vile of blood to complete the whole process. I don't do Twitter, but can you do a sarcastic #you'rejealousIknowit ?
...change of subject...
I've definitely had weird dreams lately (i.e. big black and white animation-type spiders that talk), but whenever I dream of Mara, it's really good. I had a lovely dream about her; she was about three months old and she was beautiful.... She just looked at me, but it was a great dream. Unfortunately, I can't say Mike is having the same dream experience. This is what he tells me this morning after he finishes brushing his teeth...
Mike: I had a dream about Mara last night.
Me: Really?? What happened?
Mike: We were with Amber and her baby, and Mara was really ugly.
Me: *gasp*
Mike: She was all wrinkly like an old lady and she had a long pointy nose and no chin. I kept wondering why Amber's baby looked so much better. Then, Mara looked at Amber's baby and said, "I hate you!" and I turned to you and said, "Look what you taught her!"
Geez!! So not only does Mike's dream say he thinks our daughter will resemble the witch from Snow White, but he also thinks I am going to teach her to say mean things! Thanks for the vote of confidence, honey....
Mara Lou has been a mover and a shaker for quite some time now.. for a while, she was practicing her moves largely at night when I was trying to sleep. (This habit has improved, but when I wake up to use the bathroom a few times a night, she generally thinks it's time to jam.) My mom suggested putting headphones around my tummy during the day to get her to use up some energy during my waking hours, saying that when she did this for me, I would go crazy in her belly (a foreshadowing of my affinity for music, perhaps?).
So, a trip to the dollar store for a pair of headphones later, I was ready to experiment. Apparently, Mara has a discerning ear already - she ONLY moved to Coldplay. We tried Party in the USA, Adele, some Jay-Z... totally still belly until Coldplay came back on. I mean, I can't blame her - Coldplay is awesome! But I admit that I AM a little disappointed that she didn't kick it to some rap... I had "Mar-wheezy" all ready for her to use to gain some street cred...
I needed Mike to photograph my belly because my belly button looks to me like a little mouth saying "oooooo!" :)
Whew! A lot has happened since my last post....this one's gonna be a doozie, folks... :)
First of all, Jamie and Emmett tied the knot on Oct 13, 2012! So very exciting! The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and even the rain couldn't ruin their happy parade. Here are Mara and me at the reception - I felt beautiful that day.
Their wedding day was monumental in their new life, and it also marked a milestone in mine/Mara's life - it was the last day I saw my ankle bones. Yes... farewell ankles and small feet... I will miss you and hope you come back after Mara arrives.. the next few days after the wedding, I had serious cankles happening. Not only was it a physical change from the outside, but my SKIN HURT. It hurt to bend and walk because, as my doctor put it, it was like squeezing sausage into too tight a casing (no joke - he used this phrase yesterday at my appointment!). I don't have proof of the infamous day-after cankles, but here's a glimpse into my daily foot appearance these days... (don't judge on the nail polish...growing a human for 34 weeks makes it really difficult to reach the tootsies...)
Have I mentioned how great HyVee is here?? They're basically our local Jewel/Dominick's/Meijer... but look what they have, right up front for parking!! This should be EVERYWHERE!
Back in the beginning of September, I went to Nashville to celebrate Jamie's bachelorette. The music city did not disappoint!! Despite being pregnant, I felt darned good and was able to stay out [relatively] late - I had my dancin' boots on, after all! Saturday night was cowgirl-themed, and thanks to Sarah, I got to capture this lovely moment at 2:30am..yeeeeeehawwww!
While in Nashville, we went on a 1-hour tour of the city (sort of dorky for a bachelorette weekend, but SO worth it - tons of fun!). One of the stops was to this yummy sweets shop that had delicious sandwiches, baked goods, and.... marshmallows. I. LOVE. MARSHMALLOWS. They had all different kinds of flavors, coatings... oh my God, it was Heavenly. They had this on their wall:
If Mara is a chunker, I am DEFINITELY calling her my little "Mara-shmallow" (Thanks, Mom, for that nickname idea!!)
OH.... so I get emails from Babycenter and Whattoexpect.com every couple of days.. great information and usually spot-on in terms of pregnancy symptoms.
Well..
Today, I got one entitled, "What labor really feels like." Now, granted, it began with how labor is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get...it's different for everyone... yadda yadda yadda... and THEN... one woman describes labor as a serrated knife being stabbed into the top of your abdomen and slowly cutting through you to your pelvis...and then having that repeat for every contraction.
Um... ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? What a terribly graphic description.. I have come to the understanding that labor is no picnic and that it's going to likely be a pain like I've never experienced before... but, uh, I was kind-of operating under the "Women have been doing it for years, some with higher pain tolerances than me, some with lower, and if they can do it, I can do it" mantra. This allowed me to recognize that it would be painful, but kept me from obsessively freaking out about how scared I was about the pain. So I'm currently trying to erase that email from my memory.. it's not like I can NOT go through labor, it's kind-of the next step after roastin' a baby for 9 months. So if you've gone through labor and it totally sucked, keep it to yourself, please. And if you have words of wisdom that don't include descriptions of being sliced open like a "Scream" film, feel free to contact me!
27 weeks today! (Check out the Flickr stream on the right margin for a slideshow up til now!) As today is September 5th, we are also exactly 3 months away from our due date....Grandma Grape pointed that out to me when she called the other day, and I couldn't believe it! Holy smokes - Mara is going to be here SO soon! When I told Mike, he asked if I was ready and I said NO!!! I am not ready to not sleep and have to operate on someone else's schedule! I'm quite enjoying Saturday mornings waking up whenever I darn well please.... But... I GUESS the pros of having a beautiful little daughter will outweigh the cons of not enjoying 24/7 selfishness... ;)
August 30th was our 4-year anniversary (of marriage - it's been 11 years of growing love, though!). Although Mike was traveling on the actual day of our anniversary (hey....he did that last year too...hmmmm), we celebrated over the weekend by going to Bluestem in Westport. Oh. My. Goodness. Deliciousness!! French-inspired cuisine...5 courses...mmmmmmmm So good! I was just disappointed I couldn't enjoy a glass of wine. Ha... but Mike... he was disappointed that he didn't know what "foie gras" was (neither did I, when he ordered it... I could pronounce it though! Thanks, Madame Schramski and high school French). So anyway, he ordered it and it looked like a round little slab of ... something. He took a bite and.. well.. it was HILARIOUS. He prides himself on liking just about everything (he keeps trying olives over and over, hoping that this time, he'll like like them. Never does)... he did not like foie gras. So of course we Googled it and found out it's blended duck or goose liver with mustard and celery seed. Ew. He took a few bites but the adverse effects forced him to stop. Well.. now we know what foie gras is, and that we do not like it, Sam I Am.
The happy couple at Bluestem :)
So bright side of pregnancy right now is that Mara is moving like crazy and I absolutely LOVE feeling her teeny little body kicking and twirling around. She already weighs a little more than 2 pounds! Amazing.
Mike listening to and feeling his baby girl.
(Anyone else's heart melting??)
Not so bright side... well.. I sneezed the other day and (no, I didn't pee... though I fear that day is going to come..eek).. I sneezed and the lower right side of my stomach pulled and now it is sore. My back is starting to complain that it hurts (I'm not complaining.. my back is...). And finally, I cannot stand being in the heat. We have an awesome pool at our apartment complex and Mike and I decided to spend time down there on Labor Day. I lasted an hour. I tried so hard! They have cabanas and I tried laying in there (I mean, who am I kidding?? I'm reflective in the sunlight...I wasn't going to get a tan).. but to no avail. I retreated to the air conditioning ASAP. ((I might add here, though, that Mara LOVED being in the pool! As soon as I was in there, she was going ca-raaaaazy. Water baby! Yay!))
Mike gives our pool a thumbs-up! To the left, there's a little waterfall. Very nice! :)
I just noticed that I have a LOT of capitals in this post (yes, I did that one on purpose). Oh well. Now you know exactly where my emphasis would be if I were talking. :) This upcoming weekend is Jamie Kay's bachelorette party -- Mara's second bachelorette experience, but this time she will be known and I can drink waters without question. Next post - Mara and Mommy Take on Nashville!! Until then... au revoir, mes amis!
Believe it or not (sometimes I'm in the "not" category!)... I'm 6 months along with little Mara Lou! In two days, I'll be 26 weeks...and I've got the belly to show for it, finally! For a long time, I wasn't sure if what I was feeling inside was Mara or simply my body doin' it's thang, but now I KNOW she is an active little girl! Not only does she roll around and tickle my belly for my pleasure, but Mike got to feel her for the first time as well! On August 11th, the day of Maria's (Mike's sister's) wedding, Mike felt his daughter for the first time.
(Awwwww... "his daughter"... for some reason, referring to Mara as our daughter is significantly more real to me than using her name or the term 'baby.')
24 weeks
Ready for another cute little anecdote? Okay. I warned you that it's cute. So you can't complain. :)
The other night, I decided to read to Mara while rocking in the rocking chair my grandma gave us... I read a Fancy Nancy book about butterflies (appropriate, since I seem to be drawn to butterflies and nature-y things for her nursery). I love Fancy Nancy, by the way, because the books are always fun and educational - Fancy Nancy LOVES using big words, and always explains them with parentheses...double-whammy! You can teach vocabulary AND the implication of parentheses in a text! Anyway, the cute part of this story is that later, I told Mike that he should read to Mara, since she hears my voice to the point of exhaustion all day. He chose I Wish I Had Duck Feet by Theo. LeSieg, a funny little book about a boy who wishes he had all these different animals' body parts so he could do different things. I'm not sure which made me delightedly giggle more - the fact that Mike was reading to our daughter with my legs draped over his lap, or his voice as he read the funny book. :) After he was finished reading, I rubbed my belly and told Mara that that was her daddy reading to her and... did she like the book? Mike put his hand on with me, and she KICKED in response! Homegirl likes a good book, apparently. :)
Ah, but don't fret, you Negative Nancys out there... all isn't perfect in Lindsay-Baby-World.. Mara's kicks have caused some sleepless nights already (yes, yes, I know... they'll get worse... she'll get under my ribs...she'll make it difficult to breathe... yadda yadda yadda... but for now, I'm happy to feel her little body.. so there). :) I am choosing to be a Positive Penny (you like that alliteration, don't you?? Yeah, you do..).
Mike got me a prenatal massage as my 28th birthday gift, and of course as I laid on my back, I could feel my body start to get all funny... as in, the "I am getting hot and queasy and sweaty and I can tell I'll pass out if I don't lay on my side" funny. Luckily, I told the massage therapist that I needed to lay on my side before anything happened. All I suffered was the embarrassment of being slicker than oil while she continued the massage. I kept thinking, "Maybe she won't notice... maybe she'll just think it's the lotion..." Probably not, but she didn't say anything, so NBD. C'est la vie. At least I didn't have to cut my massage short! See.. Positive Penny!
Speaking of Penny... my sweet little cousin Penny was born about a month ago! Penelope Jayne. She and Mara Louise are going to be best of friends, even if they do live a few states away from each other. :) Isn't she adorable??
Oh, and I almost forgot... my massage was in Mike's gym near his office.. and this sign was posted on the glass next to the door:
...wait... so you mean I can't come packin' to the gym?? ....I'm not joking. This was totally on the door. I understand that I'm now living in a place where people more commonly exercise their right to bear arms (there are signs along the highways between here and Chicago in support of this)... but who brings their gun to the gym, honestly? (Say this with a British accent a la Austin Powers..way more fun...) How about another movie reference? "Exercise causes endorphins..endorphins make people happy..happy people don't shoot their husbands." Name that movie. Seriously. Be my blog's second comment-maker and name the film. I dare you...
This past weekend, Mara experienced her first baseball game.. the Royals played the White Sox in KC. I thought it fitting that we should see our old-home team play our new-home team. Oddly enough, it took a move to Kansas City to see the Sox play for the first time! (I'm a Cubbie at heart - I couldn't finish the 'root root root for the Royals' line in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" because it just felt weird.)
All in all, things are great here in the Anderson baby world! I am absolutely beyond blessed ...healthy mama, loving and supportive husband/daddy..and a healthy and active little Mara Lou :)
You know how when you turned 16 you jumped at any excuse to drive anywhere? On my 16th birthday, I drove 20 minutes to Meijer just to buy Lipsmackers lip gloss. I was SO excited to just get behind the wheel and experience that sense of freedom and independence! Well..that little 16-year-old Lindsay is ME in KC right now! My dad and Suzanne graciously brought down our second car from Michigan last weekend (thank-you, thank-you, THANK-YOU to them and Patti and Dick for the gift) and now I am driving wherever I can. I honestly kind-of enjoyed driving around downtown and spending time at the DMV yesterday...now THAT should communicate my desperation to get out of the apartment! ;)
As August begins, I can't help but think about teaching. It's a very weird feeling, after always being busy and working...to know that I won't be working as a full-time teacher this fall. It's almost like a bit of an identity crisis...not a crisis, maybe an ... ummm... identity struggle? I am excited to have the opportunity to tutor and maybe even volunteer at a school or for an after-school program, though. Not just to work with kids (which I miss already, just knowing I won't be in my usual capacity), but to simply have a purpose - something that demands my time and challenges me intellectually.
Yesterday was my first OBGYN appointment in KC! Dr. Bishop was recommended to me by my Aunt Sissy, who lived here 18 years ago.. "The Bish," as she fondly refers to him, was her OBGYN during her pregnancy for my cousin Jack... crazy! He was absolutely LOVELY. I learned about his family and a little about his travels as he learned about me. He made a point of mentioning how the doctors at his practice focus on personal relationships with patients and I seriously felt like I was living in a dream - I thought nice doctors like him only existed in the movies!! As he left, he told me, "Make yourself at home, this is your second home now!" with a smile. OMG I couldn't stop smiling and thinking about how lucky I was to have such a rockstar doctor!
Little updates with me and Mara:
Baby girl keeps streeeetching her little self out and putting pressure on my bladder. Not painful, but definitely lets me know she's there. :)
Had another weird little episode where I felt nauseous, light-headed, and went into a cold sweat again...while laying down...and waiting for The Bish to come in to the appointment... luckily, he just smiled and nodded as I told him of the ER visit and this second episode, so apparently I'm fine.
Still working on the most comfortable way to sleep on my side without my hips or shoulders hurting, but it seems that a body pillow between the knees, one pillow under my head, and another pillow layered between the two gives the best positioning without forcing me to clench my teeth or wake up whining about my joints aching. It also helps if Shermie props up against my back. :)
Mara Lou's heartbeat is strong, so she's growing well and staying healthy! Maybe that's part of the reason why I feel tired unless I get 11 hours of sleep every night!
Yes! Believe it or not, Baby Anderson is really a little baby girl. I was so absolutely shocked during the ultrasound. I had convinced myself that I was absolutely having a boy, even trending toward boy bedding and nursery decor. But little Baby Anderson is a sweet little trickster. I'm sure this will be one of her many surprises. :) *Note: Pink is a pretty color and all... but I definitely am more attracted to non-pink colors for Baby Girl; blues, greens, yellows, even purples...
The common question after the gender reveal is, "Do you have a name?" Yep. Sure do. And yes, I have no problem sharing! Her name is Mara Louise, a tribute to two of our grandmothers - Marilyn (Mike's maternal) and Regina Louise (my mom's maternal grandma). The first name, Mara, sounds like the letter "R" with an 'mmmmm' and an 'uh' around it. I'm hoping she won't be that kid whose teachers all pronounce her name wrong, causing her to hate it! ;-) Oh well.. I always wanted to be Rebecca for some random reason, so I'm sure she'll want to change her name to Shenandoah at some point down the road.
Mara at 21 weeks!
We were in Chicago when we found out (last appt there - awwww).. However, that ultrasound wasn't my only visit to the hospital. The following day, I graced them with my presence in the ER because I nearly passed out during brunch. You know what? It's incredibly embarrassing to arrive at the Emergency Room not feeling like you have an emergency anymore.. as I walked myself up to the check-in desk, appearing completely unscathed, I checked out the people around me - broken arms, broken legs, and a big ol' gash across some guy's forehead. I began with, "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be here, but..."
Okay, here's the story..
Out to brunch with Jamie Kay at my FAVORITE brunch spot in Chi-town: Orange. I was on Cloud 9. Had frushi (fruit sushi, a MUST), a few sips of their orange-infused coffee, and half of a delicious egg and veggie chorizo wrap. Drank a glass and a half of water. Had just finished when suddenly, I began to feel nauseous. Realizing this was no little game my body was playing, I told Jamie I had to go outside for some air because I felt sick. Naturally, I shooed away her offer to escort me, saying I just needed a minute.
WELL, when I got out there, I didn't just feel nauseous; I began to get all clammy. And faint. And suddenly, I couldn't really hold myself up against the brick building anymore. So what does a girl do? Get on all fours on Clark Street in a cute green dress, of course. A nice couple had just parked their car and asked if I needed help, but I was still being Stubborn Sally and said I'd be fine....
NOPE. After another minute, I realized it was getting worse and I couldn't really see as well. Luckily, Maria (one half of the parked car party) had waited (she's much smarter than I) and quickly retrieved Jamie Kay. Then, her other half of the parked car party, Julio, came out and shared the job of holding me up to walk to a chair with Jamie Kay. I must have looked like a hot mess. I couldn't hold myself up, I was cold and sweaty, and I couldn't really respond to questions (except for the "Do you want an ambulance?" to which I [vehemently] croaked, "No").
Jamie drove me to the ER, where Mike met us and I was told that I was probably dehydrated. Four hours, one saline bag, three small viles of blood, one urine test, and several ridiculously good-looking doctors later, we left the ER. Mara was totally fine throughout all of this. She was probably rolling her eyes at me, wondering why her mama can't just pick up a glass of water and drink it!
Kickin' it in the ER
Later that evening, we celebrated the happy happy union of our friends Dustin and Phoebe - now Mr. and Mrs. Cahan!! :) Congratulations, you two!
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
