mommypalooza™ ~ a daily dose of mommy mayhem.

I feel better already.

Today's been a day of recovery for us here at the T household.  Yesterday morning I woke up feeling totally off.  I could tell it was much more than just morning/pregnancy sickness.  We skipped Will's Kindermusik class and I didn't get out of bed until about 10:30.  As I was showering I could really feel the sickness coming on fast.  And, well, it did.  Good thing I was in the shower.  But I did find myself calling screaming out to God to please help me!  And, crying out that I wanted my mommy!  Ugh!  I LOATHE vomiting.  I finished my shower and then found myself feeling like total crap.  Then I went to the bathroom.  Yeah, that wasn't pretty either.

After getting dressed, I made my way downstairs only to find David already fixing lunch for the boys so that Nathan could make it off to school in time.  (Thank you wonderfully awesome husband of mine!)  He had mentioned that N didn't feel too great but I didn't think it was anything to worry about.  Wrong.

I was out on an appointment at about 12:40 when I got a voicemail from the school than N was in the nurse's office at school because he had vomited and that he needed to be picked up.  I felt so horrible.  Partly for the vomiting, but mostly because N was going to have to miss his entire pajama day at school - something he's been looking forward to since last week when it was announced!  Poor thing.  I picked him up from the nurse's office and he was just sitting there, all sickly looking with his Thomas the Tank Engine pj's on amidst a couple of other older elementary students who'd made their way into the office as well for various ailments. 

All N could talk about on the way home is how he was missing the dinosaur movie they were just about to watch and missing the kettle corn and sharing in the day with his friends.  I told him that we could have our own pj day too complete with kettle corn when he got to feeling better.  That wasn't really good enough because he of course would want his class there.

We made it home and set N all up on the couch where he wanted to be, all curled up with a blanket and pillow and a cup of Pedialyte.  He had free reign of the tv so he enjoyed watching for a bit.  I went upstairs and changed my clothes and was feeling even more sick than I had felt that morning.  D was at the gym with Will and when they came back home, I started in again with the up-chucking.  Yes, it was a horrible, horrible day.  But I knew that between the two of us (N and me) we had some horrible stomach bug.  Will had this same thing Sunday and into Monday so I assume he was the culprit. 

So, N and I pretty much spent literally all day yesterday in bed.  N was fine with some saltines and Pedialyte, but I couldn't keep down any liquids, much less food.  By 8 pm I called my doc's office because I began to worry that I would get dehydrated from all the digestive issues and not being able to hold down liquids, and knew that couldn't be good for the baby.  I spoke with the doc on call and she basically told me to try a bit of Gatorade about a tablespoon every fifteen minutes.  I started at about 9:00 pm and was able to hold that down until the middle of the night.  I slept in our guest room partly because I didn't want to share my germs but also because I needed the room to toss and turn in a bed occupied by just me!  It was a long night but I managed to sneak in sips of Gatorade throughout and made it okay. 

This morning we skipped N's violin lesson and I lingered in bed till about 1 pm!  N also stayed home from school again just be safe.  I am happy to report that both N and I are doing quite a bit better.  We're both holding down food and drink and although I am still somewhat nauseous and having food aversions, I am strides ahead of what I was yesterday.  I think I am just back to my old pregnancy symptoms.

But, getting back to the title of my post - my mom, step-dad, and brother are making a trek up here tomorrow for the weekend and I am excited to see them!  The kids will be thrilled!  Hopefully I will not feel as bad as I have been feeling lately and will be able to fully enjoy their company.   ♥

 

♥

Week seven.

This has by far been the most challenging week of any pregnancy I've ever had.  I've made it, nonetheless, and am eager to get through this very bumpy road my body's been traveling on! 

 
Seven weeks! 

Here's my weekly update from American Pregnancy:

What changes are occurring with your body?

Changes within your body are gradually continuing. It is not likely that the people around you can even tell that you are pregnant. You may have gained a couple of pounds, but you also may have actually lost weight if you are experiencing morning sickness at this point. Losing weight this early is not uncommon, and in a few weeks things will begin to shift in the other direction. You may also be experiencing other early pregnancy symptoms.

My 2 cents:  Uh, yeah, are you kidding me? I dare you to find a person around me who isn't "likely to know I am pregnant!"  Yes, I have actually lost some weight but my belly has gotten bigger, so what gives?!

What is happening with your baby?

At this point every essential organ has begun to form in the embryo's tiny body. The hair and nipple follicles are forming, and the eyelids and tongue have begun formation. The elbows and toes are more visible as the trunk begins to straighten out.

My 2 cents:  This is so fascinating to read and think about!  It's the only thing that gets me through my sick days these days.

How big is your baby?

Your baby is approximately an inch long by the end of this week and weighs less than an aspirin.

What should you plan for this week?

If you have not chosen a doctor or midwife at this point, it is time to choose one. Read our information on choosing a health care provider and what to expect with your first prenatal visit.

At this point you are well into your first trimester and may begin suffering from morning sickness. Seventy to eighty percent of all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness, which is caused by the increased amount of hormones in your body. If morning sickness is so severe that you are constantly throwing up and not keeping anything down, consult with your doctor about the possibility of having hyperemesis gravidarum.

My 2 cents:  Talk about throwing me for a loop!  This pregnancy is TOTALLY different than my previous ones!  I have never felt so darn uncomfortable and nauseous.  I normally am LOVING being pregnant at this stage and right now feel like there's no light at the end of the tunnel.  I haven't blown chunks yet (though when Will was up vomiting two nights ago, I almost did too!) but I have come pretty close.  My stomach is constantly in a state of nauesousness and it comes and goes all day long.  I am praying it gets better and soon!

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

Here are a few helpful hints on your quest to surviving morning sickness :

• Eat small meals often.
• Eat soda crackers 15 minutes before getting up in the morning.
• Get plenty of rest and nap during the day.
• Sniff lemons or ginger, drink lemonade, or eat watermelon to relieve nausea.
• Eat salty potato chips ( They have been found to settle stomachs enough to allow you to eat a meal.)
• Do not skip meals or lie down after eating.
• Do not cook or eat spicy food.
• Take Vitamin B6 (50mg) daily,
• Talk with your doctor about supplements.

My 2 cents:  I wasn't aware of the watermelon thing but it's one of my favorite fruits so I may give it a whirl.  No dice on the spicy food thing.....I eat it every chance I get.  I have tried potato chips but just end up feeling like crap after a few minutes of eating them.  I am looking forward to receiving my delivery of Prego Pop Drops from drugstore.com tomorrow!  I have tried those and really like them!

Tips for mom’s partner:

Talk with your partner about which prenatal appointments she would like you to attend with her. Many couples like to attend every appointment together, while others only attend major appointments like sonograms together. Go ahead and begin making plans to attend certain or all of the appointments, and do not forget to mark your calendar.

My 2 cents:  Sonogram - May 18th - David will be there, I am sure!  Not sure about other appointments - we'll have to see how it goes, but it's our third time around the block so we're old pros.  ♥

I ♥ my family.

Happy heart day!  Valentine's Day has been pretty okay for the T familia.  I actually woke up feeling better than I have felt all week long.  I think the baby is giving me a break; even if just for today.

I took the kids to our church Valentine's Day party and they had fun playing games, crafting, and of course - eating!

 
Nathan enjoying sprinkling his cookie.

  
Will enjoyed decorating his cookie (see it to the left of the white cup on the left).  But enjoyed eating the spilled sprinkles off the table even more.

Later we all headed out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse....mmmm!  One of our faves!  We rarely ever order an appetizer there since they give you those darn delicious rolls and butter.  But, this time I had a free appetizer coupon from my birthday so we opted for the basket of ribs before our meal.  Who knew that Will would end up eating over half the basket?!

 

  
Hey, Grammy!  Guess who's going to share the Martin City Special with you next time you take him to Jack Stack??!!  ♥

Banana Dogs + My Birthday.

Wow.  What a fantabulous birthday today has been.  Nathan crawled into bed with us at about 7 a.m. and rolled over and whispered with a big grin on his face, "Happy Birthday, Mom!".  I smiled and squeezed him tight.

For lunch the boys wanted me to fix them Banana Dogs.  This is a feature they've wanted to dine upon since seeing it on Ze Fronk.  They LOVE watching these little mini-shows between their favorite Disney channel shows.  Let me just say that this little show gives them all kinds of ideas about cooking unique and fun snacks.  I've tried before to give my kids bananas and peanut butter sandwiches but they've not taken to them too well.  Apparently the banana dogs were all they needed.

 

   

 

Nathan had his Pre-K Valentine's party at school and it was of course great fun.  When evening came, I was treated to a wonderful dinner at Houlihan's and actually enjoyed the steak and jumbo shrimp entree!  Afterwards, we headed home and to my surprise, David had taken the kids to pick out an ice cream cake for me and we totally dug in.

Making a wish!

I couldn't have had (or asked for) a better day!  ♥

Week six.

I am in my sixth week of pregnancy and starting to feel truly feel like it.  I guess I never really announced here on my blog that I am pregnant, so this post will do exactly that, now that it's official.  I had my first doctor appointment today and it went great!  I am an old pro at these prenatal appointments that I sort of felt guilty about not being as nervous and giddy as I was my first time around.

So, my official due date (or, "dude" date, as I like to call it - yes, I think it's a boy!) is October 5, 2009.  I am exactly six weeks pregnant today.  Blood pressure was great - 100/60 and I've gained about a pound.  My regular jeans still fit for now so I ain't complaining!  And here's Nathan's lovely shot of me today.  I should note that he reminded me about getting to take a picture of my belly today.  He asked if I remembered that I told him he could do it every week and when I replied yes, he asked if today was the day.  Ironically, it was!

Six weeks along.

After giving a blood sample at the OB's office today I was given a diaper bag full of samples, coupons, and mostly useless stuff, but it was still nice to look through.  I guess baby has his first diaper, as there was a Huggies newborn sample in the bag and I will be putting that up for use at a later date!

I had an extremely vivid dream last night that D and I were at the ultrasound (along with a room full of people whose faces I could not make out) and we discovered that the baby was a boy!  In my dream I just kept saying, "I told you so!" to everyone around.  I've always had this feeling that God made me a boy mama.  I feel like for some reason, I am not destined to have girls.  And, that's TOTALLY fine by me! 

Here's my weekly update from American Pregnancy:

How is pregnancy calculated?

There is always a lot of confusion when discussing the way in which pregnancy is calculated. Since most women do not know when they conceived, pregnancy is always determined from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). Given that this is the way pregnancy is calculated, your pregnancy will last around 40 weeks.

My 2 cents:  This is pretty darn accurate for me.  My body never misses a beat.  The due date of October 5th is worth banking on.

What changes are occurring with your body?

You may notice that you have gained a few pounds, while other pregnant women may have actually lost weight. You may begin noticing changes in your breasts including tenderness, darkening of the areola, and swelling.

You may also begin experiencing heartburn, which is a common complaint during pregnancy.

Some women experience bleeding during pregnancy that may not be a sign of any problem. This spotting (finding spots of blood in your underwear or on toilet paper after using the restroom) may be accompanied by light cramping. You would want to consult with your health care provider if the bleeding becomes heavy like a normal period or if the cramps are worse than normal period cramps.

My 2 cents:  I won't complain till I have to bust out the maternity clothes.

What is happening with your baby?

The formations of the lungs, jaw, nose, and palate have begun. The hand and feet buds have webbed-like structures that will become the fingers and toes. The brain is continuing to form into its complex parts. A vaginal ultrasound could detect an audible heartbeat at this time.

My 2 cents:  Geez, I bet he's already got hair follicles too!  How cute!

How big is your baby?

Your baby is about ¾ of an inch in length.

My 2 cents:  My how fast they grow!

What should you plan for this week?

Knowing your blood type and your partner's blood type is important during pregnancy. Each person’s blood is one of four major types: A, B, AB, or O. Blood types are determined by the types of antigens on the blood cells. Antigens are proteins on the surface of blood cells that can cause a response from the immune system.

The Rh factor is a type of protein on the surface of red blood cells. Most people who have the Rh-factor are Rh-positive. Those who do not have the Rh factor are Rh-negative.

My 2 cents:  Got blood taken today.  But, I am O positive, right mom?

Tips for making your pregnancy better:

Some women complain that their prenatal vitamins make them sick to their stomachs. If this is happening to you, then you may want to take them with food or take them at night before going to bed.

If you continue to have problems tolerating your prenatal vitamins, consult your health care provider before stopping them completely.

My 2 cents:  I've struggled with this over the past week.  My naueseous-ness is rearing its head more often than not.  I am going to start snacking more.

Tips for mom’s partner:

Your partner may be struggling with morning sickness, and you may feel completely helpless. However, you can help mom cope with the nausea and vomiting that are common during the first trimester. Some things that you could do that could be helpful include:

• Doing the cooking (or ordering takeout!)
• Helping with the kitchen clean-up
• Doing the grocery shopping

My 2 cents:  Three words:  DAVID IS AMAZING!!!  He loves ordering out and I don't think I've done much of anything around here lately yet the kids still have clean plates, cups, and utensils.  Go figure!  I still can't surrender my grocery shopping - that's something I NEED to do myself.  But, two outta three ain't bad!  ♥

"Next!"

Will has taken a special interest in spelling lately.  He'll grab a few slips of scratch paper from our desk in the kitchen and take it over to his little art table in the corner of the kitchen.  He'll then scribble out a few letters (or what are supposed to be letters) and turn to look at me and ask, "Ma, next?!" so that I can yell out what letter comes next in whatever he's trying to spell.

So far he's spelled W-A-L-L-E and E-V-E.  He's very proud of his handiwork.  ♥

Stoplight.

I was on my way to pick up N from preschool this afternoon when I got caught at a stoplight I never get caught at.  I was casually enjoying a tune on K-LOVE and noticed my music was being drowned out by some loud, seemingly obnoxious music.  I looked over to my right and saw two cute teen girls so properly poised in their little blue Mazda convertible with the top down. 

I of course turned my music down in an attempt to figure out what they were jammin' to.  After all, I love hip-hop just as much as the next hip mom.  No dice.  I didn't recognize the song.  The gals looked over at me with a look that said, "yeah, whatever, lady - you don't like our loud music?  Like get over it!"  I'm sure they presumed I was irritated at their loud music and would have never mistaken me for being cool like them since I was in my mom clothes and driving a very suburban-mom-like SUV.  I can't blame them for passing judgement on me.

It's funny, but as I sat at that light my entire teenage years flashed before me.  Where had the time gone?  I remember being on the THAT side of the road before, peering over at some mom sitting in her car listening to her (probably) very boring music and thinking I would NEVER let myself become uncool when I became a mom.  Everything my life was consumed with at that time in my life was SO insignificant compared to what is important in my life now.  I sat at the stoplight and felt for a moment like I could've rolled down my window and shouted out, "no, girls, really - I'm NOT like just an ordinary mom!  I AM cool, I DO still listen to hip-hop and care about fashion and trends!  I GET IT!  Don't sit there in your cute little convertible with your cute little brunette ponytails and think you won't be here too one day!"

As I sat thinking back to being about their age, I could have never imagined my life then as it is now.  Happily married to a wonderful man, the mother of two insanely smart and handsome sons, and joyously expecting my third child.  It was so surreal to me to sit at that stoplight and wonder how this all happened.  I know that I've evolved into the person I am today but it's so natural, how has it NOT always been this way?  I can hardly remember my life outside of what it is now.  It's funny how you grow and change as a person but don't ever see it happening. 

I chuckled at the thoughts I had while sitting at that light because it was such a metaphor for all the thoughts going through my head.  It's like you sit at this stoplight of life waiting for the next phase in your life and when the light turns green and you proceed, you can't even remember what life was like while you were waiting at that light or what it was before you got there.  ♥

Week five.

 
Week 5.  Nathan's lovely photo of me.  Don't laugh, please.  I am totally putting myself out there just for you blog readers!

According to American Pregnancy:

What changes are occurring with your body?

There are still not any changes noticeable to those around you at this time. You may begin to notice more pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness. About 50% of pregnant women will experience morning sickness.

Morning sickness normally begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, but it is not too soon to begin preparing for how you will deal with it. Morning sickness can be experienced in the morning, throughout the day, or in the evening. For ways to help deal with the nausea that accompanies early pregnancy, read our tips for surviving morning sickness.

If morning sickness is so severe that you are constantly throwing up and not keeping anything down, consult with your doctor about the possibility of having hyperemesis gravidarum.*

My 2 cents:  I never really had morning sickness with my other pregnancies but do on occassion feel a bit nauseous at night.  Oh and then there's the gagging while brushing my teeth and taking my horse pill prenatal vitamin.  Hopefully, this third pregnancy will be no different.

What is happening with your baby?

Your baby looks more like a tadpole than a baby at this point. Your baby’s heart is beating at a steady rhythm, and the structures that will become the eyes and ears are forming. Your baby’s skeleton is also beginning to form.*

My 2 cents:  WOW!

How big is your baby?

Your baby is still very small, measuring 0.118 inches long. At this point your baby’s length is measured from the crown of their head to the bottom of their rear end (CRL). The CRL measurement is used until 20 weeks gestation, at which point it will change to measuring from crown to heel (CHL).*

What should you plan for this week?

If you still have not arranged an appointment for About pregnancy weight gain.

My 2 cents:  Yeah, I don't think I'll even research weight gain.  This is my third kid.  I know what I'm in for!

Tips for mom’s partner:

Try helping out with household tasks without being asked. This could be as simple as vacuuming, taking out the trash, or washing the dishes.

My 2 cents:  ROTFL!!!  No, seriously, I DO have a great partner.  Too bad I'm too much of a control freak to be ok with him doing most of the household chores.  But, it's early...things could always change.

♥

I could eat for a week! {and then some!}

My 34th birthday is just a week away and today my inbox was FLOODED with all of those birthday offers and coupons that I have signed up for over the years.  I seriously could eat at a different place for the next month and still not use all the offers!

Here are my favorite picks in case you want to cash in on some free birthday goodness!  If you love food as much as I do, be sure and visit all of these places and sign up for their birthday club!

• FREE sundae from Culvers!
• FREE Gourmet burger from Red Robin!
• FREE creation from Cold Stone Creamery!
• FREE dessert from Ted's Montana Grill!
• FREE six-inch sub from Planet Sub!
• $10 off $25 or more purchase from Unos!
• FREE dessert from Ruby Tuesday!
• BOGO FREE from Sweet Tomatoes!
• FREE mini pizza from Godfathers!  (We go here just about every Tuesday night for Kids Eat Free so using this one shouldn't be a problem!
• FREE dessert from Fazoli's!
• FREE appetizer from Texas Roadhouse!
• FREE entree of choice from Houlihan's!
• FREE dessert from Chili's!
• FREE entree from First Watch!
• FREE buffet from Ryans!
• FREE chocolate fondue for two at The Melting Pot!

Enjoy!  ♥

 

Superbowl XLIII.

So, the Cards didn't pull off the win but we still had fun.  We all made a trip to the grocery store earlier in the day where they were handing out the 3D glasses for the Superbowl commercials and both Nathan and Will were counting down the hours to be able to use them!  I guess when it finally came time, Will had second thoughts.

 

We enjoyed the game (who wouldn't?  It's FOOTBALL after all!) and had a good variety of football food - hot wings, lil' smokies wrapped in crescent rolls, queso dip, chips, etc.  I am a little sad that football season is over but am so ready for my other favorite season!!  FLIP-FLOP SEASON!!  Bring on the heat!

♥