Week 13

I believe I've told just about everyone that we're expecting now.  I normally tell around this time, and my belly can't hide it anyway!  I still haven't gained anything, and in fact, I had lost another pound at the last doctor's visit.  Also, my blood pressure is normal when I am not at the doctor's (a friend referred to this as "white coat hypertension"), so I don't have to go back until 16 wks.  I still have little desire to eat, and I'm having to force liquids down since lack of hydration causes...other problems.

I went yardsaling Sat., but only bought two little outfits, spending a total of $4.25 after 2.5 hours of shopping, 6 neighborhoods, and one church sale.  However, I went home that night and scanned Craigslist.  I happened upon this:

!

It's not super cutesy, but it's either-or and includes the valance, lamp, and diaper stacker.  I had actually picked it out weeks ago, so I was excited to find this.  I thought it would be quite fitting if we do have a boy.  I'm supposed to meet on Thurs. to pick this up.  Yes, I'm shopping early, but yard sale season is the best time to find deals, so I'm right there looking.  

Hope you have a wonderful week and let me know if you find any super yardsale deals!  Only 10 days of school left, also!  Woohoo!  Happy Mother's Day!  (I got a body pillow for Mother's Day--super woohoo!)

What I've Been Up To: Snugglebug's Six!

I decided to go all out for Snugglebug's 6th Birthday because  I've decided birthday parties will only happy every 2-3 years in order to give the Mommy time to recoup.  I let Snugglebug decide on what theme she wanted, and I took it from there.

Theme: Owls.  Night Owl Party, to be exact. I found this cute idea for an invite on Pinterest, located here.  Mine isn't quite as symmetrical, but it still came out pretty cute, I thought!  The wings are tacked on with tiny brads that once lost, will never be found.  I had no idea they could be made so small!

 This was the first time I attempted sculpting an animal from Rice Crispies covered in fondant.  I must say, it was sooo much fun!  Everything you see is a yummy buttercream fondant, except for the white base of the cake (and the lollipops, of course!). The basic owl design came from here.

When kids started arriving, Snugglebug started posing.

Here is the Owl Mask Making table.  There was also a ceramic owl painting table, but I wasn't sure if those kids' parents would want them on my blog.  I let Snugglebug invite four friends from class (1 didn't show) and I let Lovely invite two friends.  Then, we invited my mom's neighbor's girl (the party was in my mom's basement--not good for photo lighting!) and a family friend.  

Here is the Night Owl bed table, which you can find here.  I drew a headboard at the top and the kids sat on the floor around the "bed."  I placed napkins under plates, with clear silverware, empty goodie bags, and fancy plastic goblets I decorated with curly ribbon.  I also placed candy jewelry at each spot.

Snugglebug got some funky teeth as part of her present from me.

We had an egg hunt outside.

Then we hatched eggs for prizes (balloons filled with erasers and plastic rings).

Cake time! 

Gift time!  I always had the giver sit on the chair next to Snugglebug while gifts were opened. 

The beginning of Snugglebug's funky faces...

 

 

Notice the black feet?  My child NEVER wears shoes. 

Posing in front of the really bad, really fast owl cut out I made for the party to decorate the walls.  I had to use crayons...I'm embarrassed now...

Each child also received a handmade bookmark from the party.  Of course, it says Snugglebug's name at the bottom.

 

Updates

Cravings...there's nothing like fulfilling a food/drink craving you've had for several hours or several days.  Unless you can't figure out what you're craving.  That's me.  I just don't like eating/drinking right now because nothing is satisfying, and everything leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  Normal?  I don't remember this, so I don't know.  I craved root beer with Lovely (and gained about 35 lbs) and I craved Sunkist with Snugglebug (only gained 23 lbs--go figure).  This one?  Who knows!  Other than cheese (yes, I do like a good Colby Jack cheese right now), I'm craving...something...If you can tell me what it is, I'll clean your house for you.  Well, I'll think about cleaning your house for you, if my house is any indication of my cleaning prowess.  

Starting All Over

 Place:  Motherhood outlet in Indy 
 Lovely:  "Mommy, why does everything in here have this bump?" (points at mannequin)
Me:  "Because that's the kind of store it is."
Pause.
Lovely:  "But why are YOU in here then?"
Me:  "Because."
Lovely:  "Mommy!  Are you going to have a baby?"
Me:  "Maybe."
Lovely & Snugglebug whispering:  "Mommy is going to have a baby.  This is awesome!"
 Five minutes later.
 Lovely:  "Mommy, this is TERRIBLE!"
Me: "What?  Why?"
Lovely:  "A baby is going to keep me up nights with its crying."
Me:  ", you sleep like a rock.  Nothing is going to wake you."   
The title of this post is what keeps going through my mind:  I'll be starting all over.  I had finally moved past the diaper stage.  Lovely is almost out of her carseat.  And now:  starting all over. 

I normally didn't like to announce we're having a baby until after the first trimester, but I am now at 11 wks (although I look like I'm 20 wks!), and the cat seems to be out of the bag.  Hmm...this post may sound like I'm not happy, but really, I am.  I'm just nervous, which I attribute to being a bit older.   And knowing our house is entirely too small for all of us to live sanely.  There will be 6 1/2 yrs between Snugglebug and our newest, which seems like such a tremendous gap.  I had been under the impression that we just weren't going to have anymore children--which means we no longer have a crib, a carseat, a stroller, and numerous other baby items I had tired of storing.  I'm now 33, and I know there are plenty of mothers older than moi, I just feel...lol...old!  (shame on me, I know!)

I've decided I'll use my blog to document this pregnancy, praying it doesn't disappear.  I had kept an online journal through all of my pregnancy with Lovely--and the owner of the site transferred everything, happening to delete all of my posts . I barely wrote down anything with Snugglebug because I was too busy taking care of a 9 mo. old.  So, here goes!  

Current stats:
EDD:  November 16
Med Issues:  High blood pressure at last appt:  150/90.  However, I've taken it each morning & evening since and have not surpassed 133/82.  Thank goodness!  If I had high bp, I'd need to take meds, have weekly fetal stress tests at 32 wks and thereafter, and deliver 2 wks early.  Also, this will be my 3rd c-section.  There is one doctor in the entire area who is willing to do a VBAC after 2 c-sections, even though current research does not show a significant risk.  Anywho, he is in Louisville, and I must stay in S. Indiana this time around. 
Concerns:  I'm scheduled to teach three classes this fall.  I need the experience and the money, and since it's only 2 days a week, 5 hrs per day, I think I can handle it.  However, I'm not sure what I'll do for the few (approx. 5 days of classes) remaining after the birth. 
Predictions:  S told me (once again) that God told him we would have another baby, he just didn't know when.  This time, however, he was also told we'd have a boy.  I'm waiting and seeing.  I'm not eager to begin the battle of names that will ensue if we are having a boy. 

Columbus, Indiana

Because Snugglebug missed out on a field trip to Kids Commons in Columbus, Indiana, I decided to take both the girls myself.  It was a bit of a trip without another adult to talk with, but I couldn't think of anyone else who would be free to go that day, so anyways....

This is the main attraction.  A giant toilet that has a slide below.  The idea is to show the inner workings of a house, including insulation, and more.  They had a heat camera in one room that told you to rub your shirt so you can see the heat.  I won't tell you exactly where I rubbed, but I later found out people could have easily been watching on a screen located on the floor below.  Can we say embarrassing? ?

Below is a sliding portion of a wall that I thought would be so neat to put in a real house.  If we EVER get to move, that is. 

Bubble center.  Snugglebug became an expert bubble-blower, including creating a bubble that encased her entire body. 

Here is Snugglebug-Polar Bear.  She growled at everyone who tried to enter, including complete strangers.  Who said I needed a guard dog?

There was a cute campy scene for the girls to play.

And there was a Japanese house in which you could not wear shoes.  Very cute. 

 Before we went to Kids Commons, we stopped at a really neat soda/ice cream parlor a few stores down, Zaharakos

The girls were even enthused over the ladies' room tiles.  The food was a little pricey, but overall good quality.  Their cups of fruit really contained a huge assortment.  Their straws were made of paper, so it took a little getting used to, and the organ would play every now and then, making us feel like we were riding a carousel.  We filled up on lunch, but we went back a few hours later for ice cream.  MMmmmm...the strawberry milkshake was really good!

Dietary Changes, etc.

So this is what I'm trying first.  I bought it at Rainbow Blossom, where I was told I can return it within 60 days if it doesn't work.  Ok, this is Step #1. 

Step #2:  Cutting out red dyes/artificial colors.  This is a slow process because I just can't throw everything out of our house that has has artificial colors.  I also still need to research more foods that I can buy without them. 

Step #3:  Calm time before bed.  Earlier bedtime. 

Lovely already had limited dairy due to other digestive issues, so I haven't really changed this aspect of her diet.  Really, I do wonder if some of it is just emotional, such as not wanting people to "look" at her (which she's always had issues with), and thus she is zoning out during school.  However, she still enjoys parts of school, such as playing with her friends and art, music, P.E., Spanish, etc., during which she's totally there.  Perhaps she is just getting bored--who knows.  All I know is that homeschooling was next to impossible with her and I decided I didn't want to foster the type of relationship where I was mad and yelled all the time and she was stubborn or crying all the time.  Therefore, she's going to school for now, and we'll see how long it fits for us.  She's still getting excellent grades; she just doesn't volunteer in class (I'd be a hypocrite if I got too mad at her for not volunteering since I never did until college).  I am a little confused, however, because I've heard her read compared to other kids who are supposedly in more advanced reading groups, and oft times, she reads more fluently.  Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see.  Time will tell. 

In other news, Snugglebug was given the option of retesting for her 10-word colors spelling test (keep in mind, she's in Kindergarten and she had the following words:  blue, orange, red, brown, black, white, yellow, purple, pink, and green).  Some of the words are easy, but some are pretty difficult for this age.  Anyway, I told her she got a B- on the spelling test, and I asked her if she wanted to retake it.  Her response:  "Ummmm.  B- is close to an A."  Way to go, my little overachiever! 

Happenings

So what we all hear about happening happened.  I've been talking back and forth to Lovely's teacher because Lovely:

• Is always the last to finish her school work, and is therefore always working during snack break, etc. (I remember this problem when we homeschooled.)
• Is always tired in class, and tries to put her head down.
• Often doesn't even know the question being asked, let alone the answer.
• Has no clue how to do a process that they've been doing all year in school.

In addition, she:

• Will stare directly at you and not hear/understand a word you are saying.
• Is easily distracted.  

Her grades are pretty good, but she does have some anxiety for tests (who doesn't?).  Her teacher suggested I take her to the doctor to see if something is making her extremely tired.  Her teacher is a good teacher, and she is in a very good class.  They do fun projects in school all the time, so it's not a boring environment (I've subbed it). 

We walked in, in two minutes I was told it could be ADHD, and I was asked if I'd like some medication.  I told him I hadn't explored my alternatives and he said, "There are no alternatives."  What?!!  Not only that, but I was told most places that test for ADHD don't accept our insurance, and those that do just let you walk in, say your child has it, and then you walk out.  What?!!  Seriously? 

So anyway, I had already thought it could be ADD inattentiveness (b/c of the trials I had homeschooling her and her current behavior), but I'm just not ready to medicate my child without more research and looking into all alternatives--and yes, there are alternatives.  More to come...I just had to put my thoughts in order for now!