Random.org picked number 8 out of 1-76! So Suzanne won! Congratulations!
However, I do not have any contact information for you! Please contact me @ rgnaturalbabies@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
When I don't sleep...
I end up sharing with you my randomness.
It is has been a while since I blogged... well here on this blog it has been! Do you know I have another blog? Done with my friend Kristin? http://gogreenwisconsin.blogspot.com/ ~There it is! For your reading enjoyment.
So life has changed a LOT since I wrote last. Kimberly Clark did yet again turn us down for renting - that was way back in February. It was frustrating, yet a blessing. God obviously knew best. We are now renting a building at 430 Main St. Which is MUCH nicer than the other space. It has more character and a little less work to it. And natural light comes in the windows! AMAZING! Not a lot, but some to where I don't need to have the lights on during the day when it's myself there! It's a leap of faith renting this space, but God gave the green light and off we are. I "love" when people say "wow, if I could afford rent on a space like this..." and in my head I'm always like "we actually can't afford to either... but praying and trusting that God will make it work."
It's a challenge, more than a challenge. Some days I want to give up, but there is no turning back now. Been working hard at getting things together... cleaning, setting up, getting shelves, putting products on, getting all the products needed, trying to work with the kids (HUGE challenge) at the store, trying to get the kids to nap at the store, finding time to catch up on current online biz stuff... and the list goes on! Oh and trying to find time to sleep - thankfully my body just tells me to sometimes... but still can be hard when my mind is racing with a million and one things to do.
God is good though and teaching us. Now it's a matter if we learn or take what we're learning and apply it. It's a blessing even though at times it seems more frustrating than that.
One of the many things I've always wanted to express that well... obviously for not writing in a few months I've had "too much to do" - and the "too much to say" part has just gone to the wayside... is how talking to people about cloth diapers, raw milk (yes, we drink raw cow's milk and it is awesome... do you cook the breastmilk that you give to your baby?), and other natural things is really similar to sharing Christ with others. The difference can be in the people that it's shared with. Such as I'm not getting odd, weird looks or the phrase "that's really good for you, but that's not for me" from my friends that are Christians if I talk to them about Christ and Spiritual things. However, I can talk to others that are in Christ and they can give me those responses and think I'm totally crazy, possibly out of my mind for doing these options. And even better when a person thinks your crazy for being a Christian AND being natural.
But to me being "natural" goes in hand with being a Christian. God created this Earth and everything in it is his. As a Christian, I want to do my best to treat it as kindly as I can and respect what God has given us. I'm by no means saying I'm perfect and there are a lot of things I still need to change (as I eat my thin mint Girl Scout cookies that I won't even dare look at the ingredients listed on the box), but I know that when God created this Earth, he had us in mind.
Where am I going with this? I'm not sure because as the title says "When I don't sleep..." well, this is what happens, I go on random tangents.
If I ate all that he provided and it was more accessible, I probably wouldn't need all the vitamins and essential oils and other stuff that I take to help me. But when I feed my body with things such as thin mints, ramen, and who knows what else when it's convenient, my body will feel ill or I become tired and other things that wouldn't if I nourished my body with things that God provided, that are good and healthy and all that other good stuff :)
Just as when we are hungry for something other than food, we often fill our minds with things that are not, well maybe not even things that are "bad" but things that aren't necessarily good. Like I could eat crackers like crazy and they aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't necessarily good and beneficial. But if we fill our minds with things of Christ, he will renew us.
Not the verse I was looking for, but it totally worked thanks to biblegateway.com!
Amazing though and so true - again! Isn't God really awesome like that. Oh and the hunger analogy was completely reminded to me when we were at homegroup this evening and talking about hungering and thirsting for more of God.
I know about hunger and thirst too - in my mind I do ( I know in 3rd world countries my saying that might be offensive). I am hungry and thirsty ALL the time! Right now I'm hungry, but I should be sleeping. I drink water and yet I am thirsty again. But when you drink the living water that is from the living God - you will thirst no longer.
It is has been a while since I blogged... well here on this blog it has been! Do you know I have another blog? Done with my friend Kristin? http://gogreenwisconsin.blogspot.com/ ~There it is! For your reading enjoyment.
So life has changed a LOT since I wrote last. Kimberly Clark did yet again turn us down for renting - that was way back in February. It was frustrating, yet a blessing. God obviously knew best. We are now renting a building at 430 Main St. Which is MUCH nicer than the other space. It has more character and a little less work to it. And natural light comes in the windows! AMAZING! Not a lot, but some to where I don't need to have the lights on during the day when it's myself there! It's a leap of faith renting this space, but God gave the green light and off we are. I "love" when people say "wow, if I could afford rent on a space like this..." and in my head I'm always like "we actually can't afford to either... but praying and trusting that God will make it work."
It's a challenge, more than a challenge. Some days I want to give up, but there is no turning back now. Been working hard at getting things together... cleaning, setting up, getting shelves, putting products on, getting all the products needed, trying to work with the kids (HUGE challenge) at the store, trying to get the kids to nap at the store, finding time to catch up on current online biz stuff... and the list goes on! Oh and trying to find time to sleep - thankfully my body just tells me to sometimes... but still can be hard when my mind is racing with a million and one things to do.
God is good though and teaching us. Now it's a matter if we learn or take what we're learning and apply it. It's a blessing even though at times it seems more frustrating than that.
One of the many things I've always wanted to express that well... obviously for not writing in a few months I've had "too much to do" - and the "too much to say" part has just gone to the wayside... is how talking to people about cloth diapers, raw milk (yes, we drink raw cow's milk and it is awesome... do you cook the breastmilk that you give to your baby?), and other natural things is really similar to sharing Christ with others. The difference can be in the people that it's shared with. Such as I'm not getting odd, weird looks or the phrase "that's really good for you, but that's not for me" from my friends that are Christians if I talk to them about Christ and Spiritual things. However, I can talk to others that are in Christ and they can give me those responses and think I'm totally crazy, possibly out of my mind for doing these options. And even better when a person thinks your crazy for being a Christian AND being natural.
"13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you." 2 Cor 5:13
But to me being "natural" goes in hand with being a Christian. God created this Earth and everything in it is his. As a Christian, I want to do my best to treat it as kindly as I can and respect what God has given us. I'm by no means saying I'm perfect and there are a lot of things I still need to change (as I eat my thin mint Girl Scout cookies that I won't even dare look at the ingredients listed on the box), but I know that when God created this Earth, he had us in mind.
"Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. " Genesis 1:29-30
Where am I going with this? I'm not sure because as the title says "When I don't sleep..." well, this is what happens, I go on random tangents.
If I ate all that he provided and it was more accessible, I probably wouldn't need all the vitamins and essential oils and other stuff that I take to help me. But when I feed my body with things such as thin mints, ramen, and who knows what else when it's convenient, my body will feel ill or I become tired and other things that wouldn't if I nourished my body with things that God provided, that are good and healthy and all that other good stuff :)
Just as when we are hungry for something other than food, we often fill our minds with things that are not, well maybe not even things that are "bad" but things that aren't necessarily good. Like I could eat crackers like crazy and they aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't necessarily good and beneficial. But if we fill our minds with things of Christ, he will renew us.
" Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. " Matthew 5:6
Not the verse I was looking for, but it totally worked thanks to biblegateway.com!
Amazing though and so true - again! Isn't God really awesome like that. Oh and the hunger analogy was completely reminded to me when we were at homegroup this evening and talking about hungering and thirsting for more of God.
I know about hunger and thirst too - in my mind I do ( I know in 3rd world countries my saying that might be offensive). I am hungry and thirsty ALL the time! Right now I'm hungry, but I should be sleeping. I drink water and yet I am thirsty again. But when you drink the living water that is from the living God - you will thirst no longer.
"10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."" John 4:10-13
Yeah, isn't he good! So true too - I'm thirsty all the time. Now that doesn't mean I should give up drinking earthly water, it's just to truly be filled we need the living water that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ.
So that is where I end and go to sleep because it seems fitting. And I think I got totally away from where I started, but again... that's what happens "When I don't Sleep!"
If you read this and it totally sucks, please don't tell me, but if you read it and like it, I'd love to know cuz I'm really self conscience when I make posts (hence another reason it takes for me to be so tired to post that I don't care) and I just need encouragement in general cuz I've been pretty down lately, so i'd appreciate it. Thanks!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Miracle Diapers is now - The Cloth Diaper Foundation
This is a great non profit organization that helps needy families be able to use cloth diapers!
Miracle Diapers Is Now The Cloth Diaper Foundation
empowering families, improving the environment
As Miracle Diapers has grown so has the number of families they assist. In 2009, they helped over 450 babies directly, more than 100 babies through sponsorship and local distribution, and assisted other charities with the same mission as well!
To better serve those families Miracle Diapers reaccessed it's structure and practices. They have:
• New leadership with Roxanna Jolly—CEO and Lisa Johnston—Operations Manager and Board Chair
• Relocated their headquarters to Katy, Texas
• Restructured how they process and accept applications
• Opened a retail store for fundraising
• Founded a new membership program
• Welcomed several new board members from the cloth diapering industry
In it's fifth year Miracle Diapers wants to continue moving forward and has decided to take on a new name that better describes the organization and it's mission.
Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation.
“We felt that a more appropriate name would help the community have a better understanding of who we are, as we have often been mistaken for a diaper manufacturer. Our desire to move forward and build a legacy of support for the cloth diapering community will be reflected in our new name: The Cloth Diaper Foundation.”
-Roxanna Jolly, CEO, The Cloth Diaper Foundation
Monetary donations fell last year do to the economy. Which means there are more families out there for The Cloth Diaper Foundation to help! While diaper donations are always appreciated, we must be able to financially support organizational growth. Let's make this happen together and spread the CD love. Visit http://clothdiaperfoundation.org today to find out how you can help!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It's been a while
Hello blogger world - it's been a while since I've posted over here... not because I haven't had a lot to post about, but because I've had too much other stuff to do! Also have a new blog together with my friend Kristin. So IF I have time, trying to focus a little more over there.
Well, we have still been on the search for the perfect RG Natural Babies location. Let me tell you, there are some great spots available in Racine! A lot of very nice landlords which we've had the opportunity to meet and talk to. But my heart still sits in the property that said they wouldn't rent to us because of "conflict of interest".
So what do I have to lose to ask them again if they would reconsider - nothing! I've been praying about it and I'm just not settled on the other properties that once again would be great locations/buildings/you name it! And so I wrote this letter:
I took it over to Susie who is the apartment manager over there and super sweet to work with. She sent it over to corporate for me. This is the space that makes the things I would like to incorporate into Racine possible. It has the offices, retail space, front rooms that would be so fun for creating a story time (opposite days of what the library has of course). The build out is there and ready to go and is available (for 3 years it has been vacant). There is another space we are considering that could incorporate things like this, but some of the others would be too small to add books and other conventional baby items into the store.
If you think of it, please pray for God to work in the hearts of those that will be reading the letter at Kimberly Clark - that they may open to realizing I'm not really a threat to them (goodness, I can't convince some of our closest friends to use cloth diapers... but could probably steer them towards Pampers or Luvs if they aren't using them already, LOL) and reconsider renting to us as they did in the beginning.
Well, we have still been on the search for the perfect RG Natural Babies location. Let me tell you, there are some great spots available in Racine! A lot of very nice landlords which we've had the opportunity to meet and talk to. But my heart still sits in the property that said they wouldn't rent to us because of "conflict of interest".
So what do I have to lose to ask them again if they would reconsider - nothing! I've been praying about it and I'm just not settled on the other properties that once again would be great locations/buildings/you name it! And so I wrote this letter:
Dear Kimberly Clark,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Michelle Schimian – I am the owner of RG Natural Babies. Back in October/November we were trying to rent a space from you in the city of Racine, WI.
About 5 weeks after going back and forth with negotiating a price, you had decided you could not rent to us because of conflict of interest. Honestly, that baffled us, and literally, it left me speechless. First we thought it would come up right at the beginning if the fact that I sell cloth diapers would be an issue, but it didn’t seem to be. Also many people were surprised to find out that building was owned by Kimberly Clark, so to find out it was conflict of interest was a shock to many.
Yes, I understand that you make Huggies and Cloth Diapers and my mediocre sales probably impacts your bottom line ever so slightly. But the majority of people that are switching to cloth diapers are not doing so because I have a local store – it is because they are researching and deciding to do so on their own and then happen to find a local store to support versus purchasing from the plethora of online stores available. I am a stay at home mom working hard to help my family.
When the probability looked good to rent from you, I was actually quite excited to be renting from a corporation as yours at the hopes that the “going green” impact would be seen and in turn more “green” products would be taken into consideration for development by your company. Maybe even something I might want to carry in my store in the future. After all, I do and have carried disposable liners and disposable inserts. They are chlorine free, all natural based. I do understand that cloth for some cannot be a 100% of the time idea and these are a nice option for others that wish to avoid the chemicals.
We are coming to the drawing board and going to choose one of the many locations to rent from – all of whom want and are excited to work with us because of today’s economy. But my heart can’t seem to get away from the location that you own. So I ask once more if there could be any consideration again to rent to us.
This space would allow for a more community-like atmosphere than most of the others would. To be able to hold classes so others can learn more about natural childbirth options, breastfeeding, and the like. With this space, I was hoping to make children’s books a main item and hold story times. Events that would be free to the public to help make downtown Racine a better place.
Thank you again for your time.
I took it over to Susie who is the apartment manager over there and super sweet to work with. She sent it over to corporate for me. This is the space that makes the things I would like to incorporate into Racine possible. It has the offices, retail space, front rooms that would be so fun for creating a story time (opposite days of what the library has of course). The build out is there and ready to go and is available (for 3 years it has been vacant). There is another space we are considering that could incorporate things like this, but some of the others would be too small to add books and other conventional baby items into the store.
If you think of it, please pray for God to work in the hearts of those that will be reading the letter at Kimberly Clark - that they may open to realizing I'm not really a threat to them (goodness, I can't convince some of our closest friends to use cloth diapers... but could probably steer them towards Pampers or Luvs if they aren't using them already, LOL) and reconsider renting to us as they did in the beginning.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
"Conflict of Interest"
I am slightly miffed right now. I am thankful that God is Gracious and always has something better, but for the moment am irritated nonetheless.
We have been on a quest to find a building to open an RG Natural Babies store in Racine. Gone through many places and found some places that would work with us, but found 1 in particular that had a lot of room for growth. Started working on a plan with them about 5 weeks ago. There are many places available but this one was the one that took us the longest to talk through a plan. Particularly because it all had to go back to the owners - Kimberly Clark... yes folks, the maker of Huggies. Now I am extremely even more grateful I don't use Huggies and even when we did use disposables, we used Pampers (which I know... not much better).
I thought... okay maybe they'll have an issue because we sell cloth diapers, but if it was so, they would obviously see that right away as they wanted more information about the business, references and such. And as time went on I didn't think it would be an issue.
Thankfully we have kept our options open elsewhere as 5 weeks later I get a call saying that they cannot rent to us because of "Conflict of Interest." Seriously... you couldn't have even told me that say.. 4 weeks ago? Or even 3 weeks ago!
All in God's timing and God is good. Obviously he wanted us to learn something from that situation though right now I am having a hard time getting past the annoyance of it taking that long for them to give us that answer. If they didn't like the price, that is one thing... but the "conflict of interest" should have been seen right away. Especially as I am an extremely small business, but apparantely a threat to their bottom line.
Now, I will be switching toilet paper brands, etc... a little extreme maybe... but that's okay! There are many options out there and many buildings out there. Thankfully we do have some other good options out there. I just needed to express my annoyance.
We have been on a quest to find a building to open an RG Natural Babies store in Racine. Gone through many places and found some places that would work with us, but found 1 in particular that had a lot of room for growth. Started working on a plan with them about 5 weeks ago. There are many places available but this one was the one that took us the longest to talk through a plan. Particularly because it all had to go back to the owners - Kimberly Clark... yes folks, the maker of Huggies. Now I am extremely even more grateful I don't use Huggies and even when we did use disposables, we used Pampers (which I know... not much better).
I thought... okay maybe they'll have an issue because we sell cloth diapers, but if it was so, they would obviously see that right away as they wanted more information about the business, references and such. And as time went on I didn't think it would be an issue.
Thankfully we have kept our options open elsewhere as 5 weeks later I get a call saying that they cannot rent to us because of "Conflict of Interest." Seriously... you couldn't have even told me that say.. 4 weeks ago? Or even 3 weeks ago!
All in God's timing and God is good. Obviously he wanted us to learn something from that situation though right now I am having a hard time getting past the annoyance of it taking that long for them to give us that answer. If they didn't like the price, that is one thing... but the "conflict of interest" should have been seen right away. Especially as I am an extremely small business, but apparantely a threat to their bottom line.
Now, I will be switching toilet paper brands, etc... a little extreme maybe... but that's okay! There are many options out there and many buildings out there. Thankfully we do have some other good options out there. I just needed to express my annoyance.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Happy 5th Anniversary
Brad and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary yesterday. It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years already, though at the same time feels like it's been much longer!
He has been on 3rd shift, so he worked, came home at 7am, slept, I woke him up when the kids wouldn't stop and we had to go somewhere. He wanted to come with to our church picnic. It was a good time, but I know exhausting for him.
Came home, kids needed to nap (since Noah had been pretty much awake for 6 hours (he did have a 10 minute nap, but that doesn't count)) - Noah went down beautifully, Rachel Grace a different story. She wouldn't nap, I couldn't rest or get anything done- just one of those days and it was later then her normal nap time so I think she was overtired. Brad took a nap because well, he needed to. Noah gets up, both kids are fussy - we needed to get out of the house.
We get gift certificates from restaurant.com and Brad was willing to wake up around 5 so we could go out to dinner. I mean it's our anniversary, we have to go out! We had our romantic date with the kids at Old Madrid - they always have AWESOME food and very good service! It was nice. Our typical romantic night out where I feed Noah while Brad and Rachel Grace eat - I get crabby because I'm hungry. Noah is fussy because we're eating in front of him and he wants it. Honestly, I've wondered if it's the lighting in restaurants that gets to him - not sure, but once outside he is fine.
So of course once Brad is done eating, he holds Noah and walks around with him while RG and I hang out and eat. I really wonder what it's like to eat slow and enjoy my food again because I just don't seem to get that opportunity as much! Then Rachel Grace wants up so the 3 of them walk outside a little while I get to finish eating.
We drove down by the harbor and took a lovely stroll out there - however it was a little chilly out so lots of shivers! Did get some nice pictures though:
Twas a beautiful sunset!!!
Go home and get the kids to beddo. Since RG didn't take a nap, she slept beautifully! Noah did pretty well also!
Brad and I got to spend some quality time, we finally had gotten Noah's next size clothes up and ready, so we organized those and got them ready to go into his room. Then we finished folding and putting away the huge basket of clean clothes that has been in our room for over a week. By the time we finished that, I realized it was about 9:50 and Brad had to leave for work at 10. So I got some food out for his "lunch" (seriously what is it called when it's at 3am?) and off my wonderful husband went to work.
I do hope one of these years he will not be working on our anniversary and that we can get a babysitter so we can enjoy an evening out just the 2 of us, but we actually were able to have some good conversation working together on folding the clothes. I know that sounds strange, but it's those moments where we have to make the most of the opportunity to actually communicate because most of our day is focused around the kids.
If I do remember correctly 3 years ago on our anniversary, I was sick and preggo w/ RG - 2 years ago, the 3 of us went for a nice lunch at Asiana and then he worked 2nd shift. Last year I was sick and preggo with Noah... so maybe next year will be our anniversary year together? We shall see!
Thanks for reading and please pray that God will continue to bless our marriage and that the next 5 years will be better than that last!
He has been on 3rd shift, so he worked, came home at 7am, slept, I woke him up when the kids wouldn't stop and we had to go somewhere. He wanted to come with to our church picnic. It was a good time, but I know exhausting for him.
Came home, kids needed to nap (since Noah had been pretty much awake for 6 hours (he did have a 10 minute nap, but that doesn't count)) - Noah went down beautifully, Rachel Grace a different story. She wouldn't nap, I couldn't rest or get anything done- just one of those days and it was later then her normal nap time so I think she was overtired. Brad took a nap because well, he needed to. Noah gets up, both kids are fussy - we needed to get out of the house.
We get gift certificates from restaurant.com and Brad was willing to wake up around 5 so we could go out to dinner. I mean it's our anniversary, we have to go out! We had our romantic date with the kids at Old Madrid - they always have AWESOME food and very good service! It was nice. Our typical romantic night out where I feed Noah while Brad and Rachel Grace eat - I get crabby because I'm hungry. Noah is fussy because we're eating in front of him and he wants it. Honestly, I've wondered if it's the lighting in restaurants that gets to him - not sure, but once outside he is fine.
So of course once Brad is done eating, he holds Noah and walks around with him while RG and I hang out and eat. I really wonder what it's like to eat slow and enjoy my food again because I just don't seem to get that opportunity as much! Then Rachel Grace wants up so the 3 of them walk outside a little while I get to finish eating.
We drove down by the harbor and took a lovely stroll out there - however it was a little chilly out so lots of shivers! Did get some nice pictures though:
Twas a beautiful sunset!!!
Go home and get the kids to beddo. Since RG didn't take a nap, she slept beautifully! Noah did pretty well also!
Brad and I got to spend some quality time, we finally had gotten Noah's next size clothes up and ready, so we organized those and got them ready to go into his room. Then we finished folding and putting away the huge basket of clean clothes that has been in our room for over a week. By the time we finished that, I realized it was about 9:50 and Brad had to leave for work at 10. So I got some food out for his "lunch" (seriously what is it called when it's at 3am?) and off my wonderful husband went to work.
I do hope one of these years he will not be working on our anniversary and that we can get a babysitter so we can enjoy an evening out just the 2 of us, but we actually were able to have some good conversation working together on folding the clothes. I know that sounds strange, but it's those moments where we have to make the most of the opportunity to actually communicate because most of our day is focused around the kids.
If I do remember correctly 3 years ago on our anniversary, I was sick and preggo w/ RG - 2 years ago, the 3 of us went for a nice lunch at Asiana and then he worked 2nd shift. Last year I was sick and preggo with Noah... so maybe next year will be our anniversary year together? We shall see!
Thanks for reading and please pray that God will continue to bless our marriage and that the next 5 years will be better than that last!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
RG Natural Babies 1 Year Anniversary!
April 24, 2008 was the Grand Opening of RG Natural Babies. WOW, how far it has come! I started out carrying products from Under the Nile, Ecobaby, and Imse Vimse... since have added BumGenius, Green Earth, Thirsties, Wahmies, Fuzzi Bunz, Knickernappies, Jolly Bums, and more!
Some special deals are going on during this time. I'm having 2 drawings for 2 people to win a $20 Gift Certificate to my store. Also there will be the following:
Free Shipping on orders over $40,
Free Gift valued $5.95 or more with purchases over $50
Free BumGenius One Size Organice Cotton Diaper with purchases over $150
And a couple other specials will be through Go Green Deals and Bits and Pieces from my Life Blog
Check out these deals and please spread the word around and celebrate with us!!!
Some special deals are going on during this time. I'm having 2 drawings for 2 people to win a $20 Gift Certificate to my store. Also there will be the following:
Free Shipping on orders over $40,
Free Gift valued $5.95 or more with purchases over $50
Free BumGenius One Size Organice Cotton Diaper with purchases over $150
And a couple other specials will be through Go Green Deals and Bits and Pieces from my Life Blog
Check out these deals and please spread the word around and celebrate with us!!!
Friday, April 10, 2009
One Month and 2 Years
Happy Birthday to my daughter Rachel Grace! She is 2 years old today - boy how the time has flown by.
Also 2 days ago, Noah turned 1 month! These kids are growing up too quickly, it is very bitter sweet.
Rachel Grace has accomplished so much this past year. It's hard to even place all she has done and learned in the past year. Her abilities amaze me, her memory amazes me. She loves to read, dance, sing, and more! I love watching her stack her blocks. It is so neat to me how in the last month or so she has learned to stack her "nesting and stacking" blocks correctly. She also nests them correctly now. I can actually see her little mind working as she looks for the correct size block to go in next. Or if she puts a smaller one in, when she grabs the bigger one, instead of trying to put that one in, she takes the small ones out and puts in the bigger one and then adds the other! I love listening to her sing the alphabet... it's not perfect, but quite amazing to me! And her counting! She likes starting with the number 2 and a couple weeks ago it amazed me hearing her count from 2 - 11 (then she went back to 2) - and then today she went to thirteen!
So we must be doing something right. Often I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, tired, and like I'm a horrible mom, but my kids are healthy, strong, and fairly smart (I think) so Praise God, we must be doing a decent job! I wish I always felt like that, but if you're a mom, I'm sure you understand just what I'm saying.
Noah, my one month old little boy. How precious he is, growing up before my eyes and I hardly even notice. At a month, he supports his own head just fine. Laying on his tummy he moves his head side to side. He has a cute smile and I don't think it's always just gas... he has smiled from the beginning :) But it's not often that he does. He has grown to 11lbs in just a month!
Some struggles - he is very gassy, we believe it's from hyper-lactation syndrome, but we can't be 100% sure. Going to try some things, time dependent for the next week and if things don't get better, will call the doc or something. He spits up A LOT, cries a lot, spits up a lot, cries a lot... I really don't remember Rachel Grace crying this much - and she hardly ever spit up, but each child is different.
Well my little boy I believe is finally sleeping so, shhhhhhhh, I am going to go as I am exhausted. I will share more about my little blessings hopefully soon! And pictures, I need to get a lot of pictures up! Blessings to all and if I don't update before then.... Have a Very Blessed Easter or what I like to call, Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Also 2 days ago, Noah turned 1 month! These kids are growing up too quickly, it is very bitter sweet.
Rachel Grace has accomplished so much this past year. It's hard to even place all she has done and learned in the past year. Her abilities amaze me, her memory amazes me. She loves to read, dance, sing, and more! I love watching her stack her blocks. It is so neat to me how in the last month or so she has learned to stack her "nesting and stacking" blocks correctly. She also nests them correctly now. I can actually see her little mind working as she looks for the correct size block to go in next. Or if she puts a smaller one in, when she grabs the bigger one, instead of trying to put that one in, she takes the small ones out and puts in the bigger one and then adds the other! I love listening to her sing the alphabet... it's not perfect, but quite amazing to me! And her counting! She likes starting with the number 2 and a couple weeks ago it amazed me hearing her count from 2 - 11 (then she went back to 2) - and then today she went to thirteen!
So we must be doing something right. Often I feel overwhelmed, exhausted, tired, and like I'm a horrible mom, but my kids are healthy, strong, and fairly smart (I think) so Praise God, we must be doing a decent job! I wish I always felt like that, but if you're a mom, I'm sure you understand just what I'm saying.
Noah, my one month old little boy. How precious he is, growing up before my eyes and I hardly even notice. At a month, he supports his own head just fine. Laying on his tummy he moves his head side to side. He has a cute smile and I don't think it's always just gas... he has smiled from the beginning :) But it's not often that he does. He has grown to 11lbs in just a month!
Some struggles - he is very gassy, we believe it's from hyper-lactation syndrome, but we can't be 100% sure. Going to try some things, time dependent for the next week and if things don't get better, will call the doc or something. He spits up A LOT, cries a lot, spits up a lot, cries a lot... I really don't remember Rachel Grace crying this much - and she hardly ever spit up, but each child is different.
Well my little boy I believe is finally sleeping so, shhhhhhhh, I am going to go as I am exhausted. I will share more about my little blessings hopefully soon! And pictures, I need to get a lot of pictures up! Blessings to all and if I don't update before then.... Have a Very Blessed Easter or what I like to call, Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Noah's Labor and Birth Story, and beyond!
Okay, well I have both of the kids down for a nap (we'll see how long that lasts). So gonna try to type now... shhh, yes, I know there is a big pile of unfolded laundry and dishes amongst other stuff, but this is MY time to sit!
Please Note: This blog post contains some very controversial issues. You may not agree, but please respect our research and decisions as we will do the same for yours. Also note, it is very long and sometimes I start to go on tangents :D
So I was due with Noah March 9 according to my 20 week ultrasound. My original EDD was around March 10-17, so I figured he'd be a bit later. There was so much stuff I was stressing about getting done before his birth because I knew (and am experiencing now) that time would be more limited once he was here.
One big thing I wanted to do was take a shopping trip to Trader Joes and Whole Foods to stock up on some Organic Items (that are reasonably priced). I knew we had to go b4 the baby came because it would be such a challenge to make it there after (it's an hour away). My good friend Angela was gracious enough to take this trip with me on Saturday March 7, when both of our husbands had off and could watch the kids. Going with her vs. Brad, RG and I going was just better in many ways - love RG, but takes twice as long. And even better, Angela is a nurse! So if I went into labor, I have help right with me, hehe! :) Plus it was just fun to go out one last time for a while with just a girl friend. We got to have lunch and yes, I had Sushi.... shhhh ;)
A lot of walking and I was tired! I remember at the end of Whole Foods getting into the car, feeling like I had something in my pockets and then realized these pants didn't have pockets. So I'm thinking the baby was lower. My thoughts were, that's okay, they drop prior to labor and we are gonna make it until Wednesday for him to come out!
So exhausted when I got home, my Braxton Hicks Contractions for the past few days had always been a lot more painful in the late evenings, so nothing out of the ordinary. Rachel Grace however, what a sweet girl. She wanted me SO much more that evening and she wanted me to swaddle her baby dolls and she was carrying them around saying "baby baby baby" "baby baby baby." Honestly it was like she knew something. She was just acting different and like I said, a lot more clingy to me. When we put her down for normal bed routine, she would not leave me or let me go. She had to sit on my lap and she didn't want to go by daddy. I finally had to tell her I love her and leave the room and Brad finished putting her down. It was odd.
So I was tired and not feeling the best and even though there was a lot to do, I figured, I'm going to bed early - ummm, by early, I mean just before midnight. I had been sleeping on the couch the last few nights for just even the first couple cycles of sleep (meaning I get up to pee about 3-4 times a night) because it had been nicer leaning my back up against the couch and well, other reasons I posted about earlier. ;)
I wake up as normal needing to get up and pee. Was I sweating? Hmm, maybe, I felt a little damp and I was quite warm. Maybe I accidentally peed a little in my sleep I thought. Well, I get up to walk to the bathroom and I feel water trickling down my legs. Oh my goodness, did I pee in my pants was honestly my first thought! Ummm, no, my water broke. It was 3:30 am, I was freaking out! I wake up Brad and get changed. He's like "huh? what? are you sure? okay... can I go back to sleep." Seriously, I did not like that. But I think I said I'd call my doula and then come back for him. I check again and I had also started bleeding - thankfully this time around, I knew that would happen when I went into labor.
My wonderful Doula - Christina was amazing! I linked you to general information about Doula's because she does not have a website with her info (hint hint, Christina - you need a website!). But for anyone in the Racine/Kenosha area that would like to use one, she is awesome and I can refer you to her!
So I feel horrible calling her at 3:30 am, but I was assured that is what I was suppose to do. So much better than calling the hospital and going in like I otherwise would have. We talked a bit, she started getting some of her stuff ready, Brad and I started getting our stuff ready (I didn't plan to have the baby til the 11th, so I didn't have my bad packed of course!). Contractions were regular, but light. A lot of back pain, I was working on breathing through them because often I would tense up. I snacked a little which was good. Rachel Grace continued to sleep soundly, Brad continued to want to sleep. Christina got to our house about 5:30 I believe. Then Brad got to go sleep some more and she helped me as my contractions continued to get a little stronger.
I continued to pack and trying to pack RG's stuff, made some steel cut oats for breakfast with Christina's help as my contractions continued to get stronger. They were also pretty regular, probably 5-7 minutes apart. The stronger contractions were coming along a lot faster this time. I did use some Peppermint EO on my back and I really can't remember if that seemed to help at all with the discomfort.
I think around 7:30ish, wake up Brad because we really need to have everything ready, wake up Rachel Grace, get her ready and figure out where she is going. Call my wonderful friend Angela about taking Rachel Grace (as we had previously talked about) and said to bring her over whenever. It took so much longer eating and getting ready because my contractions kept getting stronger and closer together. RG did good with helping me breathe, hehe. She is cute like that, she would imitate my breathing. What really helped for some reason when I was having the contractions was me leaning over and either Brad or Christina squeezing my hips. It was strange I though, but really seemed to help a lot!
I think around 10 I finally called the hospital to let them know I was in labor. Didn't tell them my water broke because they didn't ask and they just said to come in whenever. Brad took Rachel Grace to Angela's so that it would be easier to finish getting ready. Just odds and ends, like putting food in the freezer since we won't be eating it in the next couple of days and what not. I didn't want stuff to get wasted!
Brad's back, we're about ready and I ask Christina if I can ride with her. That way we could get there and Brad could finish getting the stuff in the car and meet us there. I think they both thought I was crazy because one of the first things I did around 4am was print a shipping label for a package I needed to send out and I insisted that Brad drop it off at the PO before meeting us at the hospital. Maybe I am a little crazy, but I just wanted to get it out to my customer!
So, we get to the hospital, check in at 11:10am. Contractions are bad, for some reason they monitor me before putting me into my room. Talked over the plans for the labor and after, of course, I want to do my best not to get an epidural. I want to do this as naturally as possible - I mean what did they do all those years ago!? Well she checked me at 11:45 and I was 3 1/2 cm dilated. I was like - "that's all?" because I was in so much pain. I was having some back labor too. I don't think that lasted as much as when I was in labor with Rachel Grace though.
So they finally move me to my own room, as expected, I was told the warnings and stuff again for turning down taking the antibiotic since I tested positive for GBS. This is the reason I turned it down. I am always looking for alternative and natural remedies for things and wish I would've known more the first time around. I of course do not want my newborn to be sick or die, but if it can be avoided, I do not want them to start their life on antibiotics. I had asked my doctor to retest me a few weeks back, however they would not, so I just went ahead and opted not to have it.
Contractions got closer together and stronger so quickly! I was sitting on all fours in the bed to help with the back labor and comfort in general and had to go to the bathroom - again! And I remember being in there and talking to my Doula and pretty much saying "I need the epidural, I want to get it." She did a good job at encouraging me not to, that this labor is moving quickly and reminded me of how much I didn't want to get it. I said I know, I don't care, I need to get it. Told the nurse and of course it would be a while because they need to start me on an IV and what not and call the guy over. She also reminded me how I didn't want to get it. That was nice, but seriously, I felt like I was dying.
Checked me before starting the IV and I was 6 cm at 12:32, which explains why it hurt so much because the labor was moving quickly. Start the IV, and encouraged me to get the sedation drug instead. Or at least to start. I said okay so I would at least have something and soon after, they started me on that. I remember it was a bit before I started feeling loopy and I kept asking for the epidural. I could feel the contractions the whole time through (with RG when they had me on the sedation, I couldn't feel the contractions except when I was coming out of it after 2 hours) and they were painful! I don't know if this is when they were able to get the epidural guy, but they checked me at 1:32 and apparantely I was 10 cm. I remember asking for the epidural and Christina said to me "Michelle your at 10 cm. You're gonna start pushing soon."
Me all out of it was like "Huh? What, really?" and in my head I was thinking they were lying to me so that I don't get the epidural! LOL
I apparantely started pushing at 1:48 (someone wrote all these times down for me, I had no clue what time it was when it was happening). I don't remember much of it because I was so out of it, but I remember everyone being really nice and trying to help me relax and encouraging me. The on call dr. was the other doctor I had considered switching to when I found out my dr. would be having back surgery and out for a while. He came in at some point, but I never really remember seeing him or hearing him.
I continued pushing and all of a sudden his head came out! (as I'm told, not that I saw, lol) and then the rest of him, I had my little baby boy! I couldn't believe it. The plopped him on me and well, I hardly even remember since I was still so out of it from the sedation. It was 2:07pm that he was born. We did delayed cord clamping, so they waited to clamp the cord until it stopped pulsing.
Adding later: I forgot to write that apparantely his cord was in a snug knot when he was born. The doctor thought that it probably happened when he was round 5-6 months because after that, he wouldn't have had the room to move around for that to happen. Thankfully it wasn't tight, just snug, because that could have been very bad. God is good and has blessed us greatly by it not being serious and granting us such a healthy boy.
I'm told the baby (we didn't have a definite name yet) took really well to nursing right away, though I do not recall because I was so out of it still. I was excited because I got to hold him right away whereas Rachel Grace, I didn't get to, but I wish I would've been more with it so that I could have remembered holding him. I also recall that I kept trying to stay awake and I kept falling asleep.
He weighed 8 lb 4.7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Almost a pound more than Rachel Grace and an inch longer! WOW! I mean that's not a big baby - I know others that have 9-10lb babies or more, but when I look at what Rachel Grace was compared to him, it was quite the difference.
I would like to say it was all one beautiful, wonderful experience as originally intended by God, however, I don't remember much and it was quite painful and hard. Was it all worth it? Of course as I look at my beautiful son (and of course my daughter) and all that God created him (and her) to be. Will I do it again? We shall wait and see. I know after Rachel Grace, I said "we're adopting next time" and that's what I'm still saying now, but give it time and I may once again forget. After all, I am still on the recovery.
After labor, I ended up losing a lot of blood still, so I ended up taking pitocin to give me contractions to stop the bleeding. The whole rest of the afternoon I am not sure if I was out of it because of blood lost or because of the sedation drug. I remember the nurse telling me I have a phone call and asked if I wanted to take it. I said "Sure." "Hello" "Hi this is Erin" "Erin Who?" I seriously had NO clue! "Erin from Oregon" haha, it was a funny conversation once I realized who it was. All I was really saying was "I want food... I'm hungry.... I just want a cracker...." I'm sure Erin will comment on here and agree with those statements. I laugh now, but I seriously was just starving and they made me wait so long until I got to eat anything. I was so mad. Something about I couldn't eat in case they had to do surgery or a transfusion from the bleeding. Seriously, you don't tell a person that just had a baby those things, I was scared!
Oh one of our fun things too was that we didn't do the Vitamin K Shot. Why? Because of the same reason we don't do vaccines - the components that are in them that really, just aren't good. And you know they say no mercury is in vaccines anymore, but it all works the same as trans fats - if it has less than some small percentage, the companies can say it's not in there even though it's still in there. I could go into greater detail about why we don't vaccine, but that's not my current topic. We did however give an oral drop of Vitamin K. Safe, natural, no chemicals and got it from the Berglund Health and Wellness Center - same location we go to for our chiropracter, though he isn't our chiropracter.
The fun part of that was the conversation my husband got to have with the on call pediatrician. She did not like that we were not doing the vitamin K shot and pretty much scolded him on the phone over our choices for that - oh and the fact that I didn't take the antibiotics. Interesting fact about the antibiotics is that by the time they would've had me on them, it wouldn't have mattered anways because of how quickly my labor went. They wouldn't have had them in me for enough time for it to make a difference. It doesn't seem she had any issues about us not giving him the eye drops. Wish I would've known more about those last time around too - they are for STD's that can cause them to go blind. I don't have any STD's and many woman don't, yet they still automatically administor these to babies at birth. If you are in a monogomous relationship and neither of you have any, it's not a very necessary thing to get. I never researched what was actually in the eye drops, just when I found out what they were for, we knew we didn't need them at all. With the Vitamin K, we wanted to be more careful because there could be hemorraging that we don't know about.
When we talked to our pediatrician the next day, she knows us and knows that we didn't make any of these decisions lightly and had respect for our choices. One reason we're so thankful we were able to find her as a pediatrician and she is absolutely wonderful! She is also very knowledgable and knows that in most other countries, they do oral Vitamin K instead of the shots.
Back to after labor... I ended up losing over a liter of blood - I have no clue what is normal but I guess that is a lot. My hemoglobin levels were around 7 which is also apparantely very low. They said 13 is normal, but anything below 10 is of concern. Probably why I was so weak and dizzy. I tried getting up to go to the bathroom and got dizzy when they even just helped me sit up, so they put in a catheter. I didn't get up out of bed until next morning when they took it out and I had to pee and I got so dizzy, almost felt like I was going to pass out. That continued the whole hospital stay. I unfortunately could only get out of bed to pee because I had no other energy except to sit and nurse Noah and eat.
Noah did eat very well. I remember one night where he slept almost 5 hours, I couldn't believe it and of course knew that he wouldn't continue that at home! He was very healthy though, never had a temperature, ate very well, no GBS :) Pooped and peed like a champ (and is continuing to til this day).
Rachel Grace came and visited of course and she was more interested in the room and everything going on rather than the baby. We did however ask her once again what she would like the baby's name to be and she said "Noah." So there we have it, his name! She did name him on her own about 4 months ago and she never let go of it. She did also say Eli a lot and continues to, so that is why we have Noah Eli Bradley! Sometimes she calls him Noah, sometimes she calls him Eli, sometimes she calls him Baby. That's okay though, she's not even 2, she can do that... she calls herself "grace" w/ almost a silent "g" though sometimes is starting to say "wachel wrace."
Rachel Grace did great at Angela's - of course she had her buddy Nathan (14 months) to play with. She had a hard time coming home and adjusting for the first couple of days. I wasn't able to do much with her unfortunately and I know that made it harder. And there was this baby here that was taking all of mommy's time and energy and a lot of daddy's. She is still acting up a little bit, but getting better.
Well I'm going in to too much other stuff then my labor and birth story, so I'll save the rest for my future "Life with two" post.
Hope you enjoyed reading my labor, birth, and beyond story! Sorry it's so long, but if you know me, you know it can't come any other way!
Here is a link to pictures of Noah!
Please Note: This blog post contains some very controversial issues. You may not agree, but please respect our research and decisions as we will do the same for yours. Also note, it is very long and sometimes I start to go on tangents :D
So I was due with Noah March 9 according to my 20 week ultrasound. My original EDD was around March 10-17, so I figured he'd be a bit later. There was so much stuff I was stressing about getting done before his birth because I knew (and am experiencing now) that time would be more limited once he was here.
One big thing I wanted to do was take a shopping trip to Trader Joes and Whole Foods to stock up on some Organic Items (that are reasonably priced). I knew we had to go b4 the baby came because it would be such a challenge to make it there after (it's an hour away). My good friend Angela was gracious enough to take this trip with me on Saturday March 7, when both of our husbands had off and could watch the kids. Going with her vs. Brad, RG and I going was just better in many ways - love RG, but takes twice as long. And even better, Angela is a nurse! So if I went into labor, I have help right with me, hehe! :) Plus it was just fun to go out one last time for a while with just a girl friend. We got to have lunch and yes, I had Sushi.... shhhh ;)
A lot of walking and I was tired! I remember at the end of Whole Foods getting into the car, feeling like I had something in my pockets and then realized these pants didn't have pockets. So I'm thinking the baby was lower. My thoughts were, that's okay, they drop prior to labor and we are gonna make it until Wednesday for him to come out!
So exhausted when I got home, my Braxton Hicks Contractions for the past few days had always been a lot more painful in the late evenings, so nothing out of the ordinary. Rachel Grace however, what a sweet girl. She wanted me SO much more that evening and she wanted me to swaddle her baby dolls and she was carrying them around saying "baby baby baby" "baby baby baby." Honestly it was like she knew something. She was just acting different and like I said, a lot more clingy to me. When we put her down for normal bed routine, she would not leave me or let me go. She had to sit on my lap and she didn't want to go by daddy. I finally had to tell her I love her and leave the room and Brad finished putting her down. It was odd.
So I was tired and not feeling the best and even though there was a lot to do, I figured, I'm going to bed early - ummm, by early, I mean just before midnight. I had been sleeping on the couch the last few nights for just even the first couple cycles of sleep (meaning I get up to pee about 3-4 times a night) because it had been nicer leaning my back up against the couch and well, other reasons I posted about earlier. ;)
I wake up as normal needing to get up and pee. Was I sweating? Hmm, maybe, I felt a little damp and I was quite warm. Maybe I accidentally peed a little in my sleep I thought. Well, I get up to walk to the bathroom and I feel water trickling down my legs. Oh my goodness, did I pee in my pants was honestly my first thought! Ummm, no, my water broke. It was 3:30 am, I was freaking out! I wake up Brad and get changed. He's like "huh? what? are you sure? okay... can I go back to sleep." Seriously, I did not like that. But I think I said I'd call my doula and then come back for him. I check again and I had also started bleeding - thankfully this time around, I knew that would happen when I went into labor.
My wonderful Doula - Christina was amazing! I linked you to general information about Doula's because she does not have a website with her info (hint hint, Christina - you need a website!). But for anyone in the Racine/Kenosha area that would like to use one, she is awesome and I can refer you to her!
So I feel horrible calling her at 3:30 am, but I was assured that is what I was suppose to do. So much better than calling the hospital and going in like I otherwise would have. We talked a bit, she started getting some of her stuff ready, Brad and I started getting our stuff ready (I didn't plan to have the baby til the 11th, so I didn't have my bad packed of course!). Contractions were regular, but light. A lot of back pain, I was working on breathing through them because often I would tense up. I snacked a little which was good. Rachel Grace continued to sleep soundly, Brad continued to want to sleep. Christina got to our house about 5:30 I believe. Then Brad got to go sleep some more and she helped me as my contractions continued to get a little stronger.
I continued to pack and trying to pack RG's stuff, made some steel cut oats for breakfast with Christina's help as my contractions continued to get stronger. They were also pretty regular, probably 5-7 minutes apart. The stronger contractions were coming along a lot faster this time. I did use some Peppermint EO on my back and I really can't remember if that seemed to help at all with the discomfort.
I think around 7:30ish, wake up Brad because we really need to have everything ready, wake up Rachel Grace, get her ready and figure out where she is going. Call my wonderful friend Angela about taking Rachel Grace (as we had previously talked about) and said to bring her over whenever. It took so much longer eating and getting ready because my contractions kept getting stronger and closer together. RG did good with helping me breathe, hehe. She is cute like that, she would imitate my breathing. What really helped for some reason when I was having the contractions was me leaning over and either Brad or Christina squeezing my hips. It was strange I though, but really seemed to help a lot!
I think around 10 I finally called the hospital to let them know I was in labor. Didn't tell them my water broke because they didn't ask and they just said to come in whenever. Brad took Rachel Grace to Angela's so that it would be easier to finish getting ready. Just odds and ends, like putting food in the freezer since we won't be eating it in the next couple of days and what not. I didn't want stuff to get wasted!
Brad's back, we're about ready and I ask Christina if I can ride with her. That way we could get there and Brad could finish getting the stuff in the car and meet us there. I think they both thought I was crazy because one of the first things I did around 4am was print a shipping label for a package I needed to send out and I insisted that Brad drop it off at the PO before meeting us at the hospital. Maybe I am a little crazy, but I just wanted to get it out to my customer!
So, we get to the hospital, check in at 11:10am. Contractions are bad, for some reason they monitor me before putting me into my room. Talked over the plans for the labor and after, of course, I want to do my best not to get an epidural. I want to do this as naturally as possible - I mean what did they do all those years ago!? Well she checked me at 11:45 and I was 3 1/2 cm dilated. I was like - "that's all?" because I was in so much pain. I was having some back labor too. I don't think that lasted as much as when I was in labor with Rachel Grace though.
So they finally move me to my own room, as expected, I was told the warnings and stuff again for turning down taking the antibiotic since I tested positive for GBS. This is the reason I turned it down. I am always looking for alternative and natural remedies for things and wish I would've known more the first time around. I of course do not want my newborn to be sick or die, but if it can be avoided, I do not want them to start their life on antibiotics. I had asked my doctor to retest me a few weeks back, however they would not, so I just went ahead and opted not to have it.
Contractions got closer together and stronger so quickly! I was sitting on all fours in the bed to help with the back labor and comfort in general and had to go to the bathroom - again! And I remember being in there and talking to my Doula and pretty much saying "I need the epidural, I want to get it." She did a good job at encouraging me not to, that this labor is moving quickly and reminded me of how much I didn't want to get it. I said I know, I don't care, I need to get it. Told the nurse and of course it would be a while because they need to start me on an IV and what not and call the guy over. She also reminded me how I didn't want to get it. That was nice, but seriously, I felt like I was dying.
Checked me before starting the IV and I was 6 cm at 12:32, which explains why it hurt so much because the labor was moving quickly. Start the IV, and encouraged me to get the sedation drug instead. Or at least to start. I said okay so I would at least have something and soon after, they started me on that. I remember it was a bit before I started feeling loopy and I kept asking for the epidural. I could feel the contractions the whole time through (with RG when they had me on the sedation, I couldn't feel the contractions except when I was coming out of it after 2 hours) and they were painful! I don't know if this is when they were able to get the epidural guy, but they checked me at 1:32 and apparantely I was 10 cm. I remember asking for the epidural and Christina said to me "Michelle your at 10 cm. You're gonna start pushing soon."
Me all out of it was like "Huh? What, really?" and in my head I was thinking they were lying to me so that I don't get the epidural! LOL
I apparantely started pushing at 1:48 (someone wrote all these times down for me, I had no clue what time it was when it was happening). I don't remember much of it because I was so out of it, but I remember everyone being really nice and trying to help me relax and encouraging me. The on call dr. was the other doctor I had considered switching to when I found out my dr. would be having back surgery and out for a while. He came in at some point, but I never really remember seeing him or hearing him.
I continued pushing and all of a sudden his head came out! (as I'm told, not that I saw, lol) and then the rest of him, I had my little baby boy! I couldn't believe it. The plopped him on me and well, I hardly even remember since I was still so out of it from the sedation. It was 2:07pm that he was born. We did delayed cord clamping, so they waited to clamp the cord until it stopped pulsing.
Adding later: I forgot to write that apparantely his cord was in a snug knot when he was born. The doctor thought that it probably happened when he was round 5-6 months because after that, he wouldn't have had the room to move around for that to happen. Thankfully it wasn't tight, just snug, because that could have been very bad. God is good and has blessed us greatly by it not being serious and granting us such a healthy boy.
I'm told the baby (we didn't have a definite name yet) took really well to nursing right away, though I do not recall because I was so out of it still. I was excited because I got to hold him right away whereas Rachel Grace, I didn't get to, but I wish I would've been more with it so that I could have remembered holding him. I also recall that I kept trying to stay awake and I kept falling asleep.
He weighed 8 lb 4.7 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Almost a pound more than Rachel Grace and an inch longer! WOW! I mean that's not a big baby - I know others that have 9-10lb babies or more, but when I look at what Rachel Grace was compared to him, it was quite the difference.
I would like to say it was all one beautiful, wonderful experience as originally intended by God, however, I don't remember much and it was quite painful and hard. Was it all worth it? Of course as I look at my beautiful son (and of course my daughter) and all that God created him (and her) to be. Will I do it again? We shall wait and see. I know after Rachel Grace, I said "we're adopting next time" and that's what I'm still saying now, but give it time and I may once again forget. After all, I am still on the recovery.
After labor, I ended up losing a lot of blood still, so I ended up taking pitocin to give me contractions to stop the bleeding. The whole rest of the afternoon I am not sure if I was out of it because of blood lost or because of the sedation drug. I remember the nurse telling me I have a phone call and asked if I wanted to take it. I said "Sure." "Hello" "Hi this is Erin" "Erin Who?" I seriously had NO clue! "Erin from Oregon" haha, it was a funny conversation once I realized who it was. All I was really saying was "I want food... I'm hungry.... I just want a cracker...." I'm sure Erin will comment on here and agree with those statements. I laugh now, but I seriously was just starving and they made me wait so long until I got to eat anything. I was so mad. Something about I couldn't eat in case they had to do surgery or a transfusion from the bleeding. Seriously, you don't tell a person that just had a baby those things, I was scared!
Oh one of our fun things too was that we didn't do the Vitamin K Shot. Why? Because of the same reason we don't do vaccines - the components that are in them that really, just aren't good. And you know they say no mercury is in vaccines anymore, but it all works the same as trans fats - if it has less than some small percentage, the companies can say it's not in there even though it's still in there. I could go into greater detail about why we don't vaccine, but that's not my current topic. We did however give an oral drop of Vitamin K. Safe, natural, no chemicals and got it from the Berglund Health and Wellness Center - same location we go to for our chiropracter, though he isn't our chiropracter.
The fun part of that was the conversation my husband got to have with the on call pediatrician. She did not like that we were not doing the vitamin K shot and pretty much scolded him on the phone over our choices for that - oh and the fact that I didn't take the antibiotics. Interesting fact about the antibiotics is that by the time they would've had me on them, it wouldn't have mattered anways because of how quickly my labor went. They wouldn't have had them in me for enough time for it to make a difference. It doesn't seem she had any issues about us not giving him the eye drops. Wish I would've known more about those last time around too - they are for STD's that can cause them to go blind. I don't have any STD's and many woman don't, yet they still automatically administor these to babies at birth. If you are in a monogomous relationship and neither of you have any, it's not a very necessary thing to get. I never researched what was actually in the eye drops, just when I found out what they were for, we knew we didn't need them at all. With the Vitamin K, we wanted to be more careful because there could be hemorraging that we don't know about.
When we talked to our pediatrician the next day, she knows us and knows that we didn't make any of these decisions lightly and had respect for our choices. One reason we're so thankful we were able to find her as a pediatrician and she is absolutely wonderful! She is also very knowledgable and knows that in most other countries, they do oral Vitamin K instead of the shots.
Back to after labor... I ended up losing over a liter of blood - I have no clue what is normal but I guess that is a lot. My hemoglobin levels were around 7 which is also apparantely very low. They said 13 is normal, but anything below 10 is of concern. Probably why I was so weak and dizzy. I tried getting up to go to the bathroom and got dizzy when they even just helped me sit up, so they put in a catheter. I didn't get up out of bed until next morning when they took it out and I had to pee and I got so dizzy, almost felt like I was going to pass out. That continued the whole hospital stay. I unfortunately could only get out of bed to pee because I had no other energy except to sit and nurse Noah and eat.
Noah did eat very well. I remember one night where he slept almost 5 hours, I couldn't believe it and of course knew that he wouldn't continue that at home! He was very healthy though, never had a temperature, ate very well, no GBS :) Pooped and peed like a champ (and is continuing to til this day).
Rachel Grace came and visited of course and she was more interested in the room and everything going on rather than the baby. We did however ask her once again what she would like the baby's name to be and she said "Noah." So there we have it, his name! She did name him on her own about 4 months ago and she never let go of it. She did also say Eli a lot and continues to, so that is why we have Noah Eli Bradley! Sometimes she calls him Noah, sometimes she calls him Eli, sometimes she calls him Baby. That's okay though, she's not even 2, she can do that... she calls herself "grace" w/ almost a silent "g" though sometimes is starting to say "wachel wrace."
Rachel Grace did great at Angela's - of course she had her buddy Nathan (14 months) to play with. She had a hard time coming home and adjusting for the first couple of days. I wasn't able to do much with her unfortunately and I know that made it harder. And there was this baby here that was taking all of mommy's time and energy and a lot of daddy's. She is still acting up a little bit, but getting better.
Well I'm going in to too much other stuff then my labor and birth story, so I'll save the rest for my future "Life with two" post.
Hope you enjoyed reading my labor, birth, and beyond story! Sorry it's so long, but if you know me, you know it can't come any other way!
Here is a link to pictures of Noah!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Noah Eli Bradley is here!
So I'm a little late and you probably already know - My son, Noah was born March 8, 2009. 2:07 p.m. Weighed 8lb 4.7 oz. 20.5 inches. So an inch bigger than Rachel Grace and almost a lb. more. He was due on the 9th of course who knows because it was determined at an ultrasound done at 20 weeks. I thought he'd be a little later actually, but by size and everything, I guess it was time!
I haven't had time to be on the computer much, but I do hope to post my birth story soon while it is more fresh in my head. I never got around to doing Rachel Graces (but in summary, over 27 hour long labor, noticed regular, minor, real contractions around 6am, checked into hospital 9:30, they kept me there, things went slow, got the epidural about 20 hours later at 4am, delivered her 8:38am the next morning, couldn't get out of bed until 5pm ish cuz of no feeling in my legs).
But I'd like to do his in more detail since I can remember more. I'm holding him typing right now, not the easiest thing, he about launched himself out of my arms... very strong and healthy boy!
I haven't had time to be on the computer much, but I do hope to post my birth story soon while it is more fresh in my head. I never got around to doing Rachel Graces (but in summary, over 27 hour long labor, noticed regular, minor, real contractions around 6am, checked into hospital 9:30, they kept me there, things went slow, got the epidural about 20 hours later at 4am, delivered her 8:38am the next morning, couldn't get out of bed until 5pm ish cuz of no feeling in my legs).
But I'd like to do his in more detail since I can remember more. I'm holding him typing right now, not the easiest thing, he about launched himself out of my arms... very strong and healthy boy!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sleeping in the Same Bed
Nope, not about cosleeping... well sort of I guess, but not with your baby! LOL
Brad got done with his 7 nights of 3rd shift, blah. Shouldn't complain, he is blessed with a stable job, but sometimes the hours get challenging. Being huge and pregnant, it was actually nice having the bed all to myself (except for the one night Rachel Grace got up and actually did fall asleep in bed with me (usually she does want to play) however, I could not sleep cuz I was on the edge... I know, how can a little girl take up SO much room? And well she rotates and moves so of course her feet were on me). Never did figure out what was bothering her that day, but she was scared for some reason.
Anyhow, so last night we're both sleeping and goodness I'm trying to get comfy and he's RIGHT there. I had to lay my pillow on his arm and at one point knocked knees literally - ouch! Just was harder to sleep, even though I have a hard time sleeping anways! Plus, love my husband, but the snoring NEEDS to stop!
So tonight, he as usual goes to bed before me. Well, I'm getting ready and he's on MY side of the bed. I tickle his feet, shake him, everything. Finally, I get the couch ready that I'm sitting on now, turn the light back on, grab the pillows, hehe, and here I mean. That's my vent of the day, dozing off ofo g'nite!
Brad got done with his 7 nights of 3rd shift, blah. Shouldn't complain, he is blessed with a stable job, but sometimes the hours get challenging. Being huge and pregnant, it was actually nice having the bed all to myself (except for the one night Rachel Grace got up and actually did fall asleep in bed with me (usually she does want to play) however, I could not sleep cuz I was on the edge... I know, how can a little girl take up SO much room? And well she rotates and moves so of course her feet were on me). Never did figure out what was bothering her that day, but she was scared for some reason.
Anyhow, so last night we're both sleeping and goodness I'm trying to get comfy and he's RIGHT there. I had to lay my pillow on his arm and at one point knocked knees literally - ouch! Just was harder to sleep, even though I have a hard time sleeping anways! Plus, love my husband, but the snoring NEEDS to stop!
So tonight, he as usual goes to bed before me. Well, I'm getting ready and he's on MY side of the bed. I tickle his feet, shake him, everything. Finally, I get the couch ready that I'm sitting on now, turn the light back on, grab the pillows, hehe, and here I mean. That's my vent of the day, dozing off ofo g'nite!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Oh Happy Day!!!
What a Blessing today was :)
I am extremely exhausted right now and will probably start to fall asleep soon. But Wednesday February 25, I've felt more relaxed then I have in a long time!
My wonderful friend Angela (the one w/ Nathan, just over 1) offered to take Rachel Grace for a few hours so I could catch a break, and so Brad could. She's been acting up a little bit here and there and being exhausted and well 38 1/2 weeks preggo, I'm having a harder time with her when she does act up. Brad has been working 3rd shift (Praise God this is his last night of it, his 7th day) and hasn't been able to get as sufficient sleep because of it also. I am thankful though that I have a husband so kind as to help out during this time.
So Brad took RG over there - just getting her ready was draining. He came home and slept and I got to get some work done. It was odd, I kept thinking, I had to be really quiet or else Rachel Grace will wake up from her nap. It's just weird to not have her here! I was also a little on edge thinking I have to hurry because I don't have a lot of time.
It's about time she would normally go down for a nap and I'm thinking "I should call Angela," and then I'm like hmmm, I should probably eat first if I'm going to have to go over there to get her. So I make some lunch and eat - felt so nice! Then I call Angela and she tells me "You're gonna fall off your chair... they are BOTH sleeping!"
WOW! Rachel Grace ended up taking a nap while there. Angela had been getting her son ready for a nap and told Rachel Grace just to wait a minute so she could put Nathan down for a nap and RG kept saying "nite nite" "nite nite" and probably doing the sign language sleep she normally does. So Angela asks RG if she wants to take a nap. "Yes, nite nite" She grabs her baby and Nathan's blankey and walks by the crib. LOL! So, she put her down even before Nathan and they both ended up napping for her.
What a relief that was for me and I felt SO much more relaxed after that. Just kept on working until it was time for my dr. appt (which they called to see if I could come in early). Wake up Brad to go and then sure enough we get there and the Dr. was delivering a baby. So we end up waiting just a bit, but it all worked out! Nothing has changed since last week - maybe 1 cm. dilated, 50% effaced. But I'm totally fine with that which is odd for most woman at this stage. I'm just not ready yet as uncomfortable as I may be. And I think he knows that!
So we run to pick up some food because we are both starving and know when we get RG, it's going to be a scramble to make food. My favorite, well one of them... Tacos El Rey! Go get RG and she had a blast! Angela said she was so good and well behaved - her son was a bit fussy, but RG apparantely did very well. She makes me so proud! Of course she didn't want to leave... so that was interesting.
Anyways, it was a good and productive day. Also I got some new products in which I am excited about! The Thirsties Pocket AIO diapers came in today!!! Also the New Fuzzi Bunz One Size Diapers came in yesterday. I think these new products (new to me) I am carrying seem so awesome! I just hope that people will come to my store to find these products!
Well, before I really start dozing off I will say goodnight. Busy busy day tomorrow - going to pick up some organic raw cows milk and go get our taxes done! Not completely ready for them, but I'll be able to send him the rest of the info later. Brad is suppose to have a 3 day weekend (we often know how that turns out) so hopefully I will be able to actually get everything else done then in order to have everything completed before the baby comes!
Then after I have that done, I need to wash baby's clothes and put it in the drawers! We have a few things upstairs in the drawers ready for him, but we still have not transitioned all of RG's stuff into her new room... which I know I know... I STILL need to post pictures. I will do that soon, I promise - just as soon as I get the taxes done :P G'nite all!
I am extremely exhausted right now and will probably start to fall asleep soon. But Wednesday February 25, I've felt more relaxed then I have in a long time!
My wonderful friend Angela (the one w/ Nathan, just over 1) offered to take Rachel Grace for a few hours so I could catch a break, and so Brad could. She's been acting up a little bit here and there and being exhausted and well 38 1/2 weeks preggo, I'm having a harder time with her when she does act up. Brad has been working 3rd shift (Praise God this is his last night of it, his 7th day) and hasn't been able to get as sufficient sleep because of it also. I am thankful though that I have a husband so kind as to help out during this time.
So Brad took RG over there - just getting her ready was draining. He came home and slept and I got to get some work done. It was odd, I kept thinking, I had to be really quiet or else Rachel Grace will wake up from her nap. It's just weird to not have her here! I was also a little on edge thinking I have to hurry because I don't have a lot of time.
It's about time she would normally go down for a nap and I'm thinking "I should call Angela," and then I'm like hmmm, I should probably eat first if I'm going to have to go over there to get her. So I make some lunch and eat - felt so nice! Then I call Angela and she tells me "You're gonna fall off your chair... they are BOTH sleeping!"
WOW! Rachel Grace ended up taking a nap while there. Angela had been getting her son ready for a nap and told Rachel Grace just to wait a minute so she could put Nathan down for a nap and RG kept saying "nite nite" "nite nite" and probably doing the sign language sleep she normally does. So Angela asks RG if she wants to take a nap. "Yes, nite nite" She grabs her baby and Nathan's blankey and walks by the crib. LOL! So, she put her down even before Nathan and they both ended up napping for her.
What a relief that was for me and I felt SO much more relaxed after that. Just kept on working until it was time for my dr. appt (which they called to see if I could come in early). Wake up Brad to go and then sure enough we get there and the Dr. was delivering a baby. So we end up waiting just a bit, but it all worked out! Nothing has changed since last week - maybe 1 cm. dilated, 50% effaced. But I'm totally fine with that which is odd for most woman at this stage. I'm just not ready yet as uncomfortable as I may be. And I think he knows that!
So we run to pick up some food because we are both starving and know when we get RG, it's going to be a scramble to make food. My favorite, well one of them... Tacos El Rey! Go get RG and she had a blast! Angela said she was so good and well behaved - her son was a bit fussy, but RG apparantely did very well. She makes me so proud! Of course she didn't want to leave... so that was interesting.
Anyways, it was a good and productive day. Also I got some new products in which I am excited about! The Thirsties Pocket AIO diapers came in today!!! Also the New Fuzzi Bunz One Size Diapers came in yesterday. I think these new products (new to me) I am carrying seem so awesome! I just hope that people will come to my store to find these products!
Well, before I really start dozing off I will say goodnight. Busy busy day tomorrow - going to pick up some organic raw cows milk and go get our taxes done! Not completely ready for them, but I'll be able to send him the rest of the info later. Brad is suppose to have a 3 day weekend (we often know how that turns out) so hopefully I will be able to actually get everything else done then in order to have everything completed before the baby comes!
Then after I have that done, I need to wash baby's clothes and put it in the drawers! We have a few things upstairs in the drawers ready for him, but we still have not transitioned all of RG's stuff into her new room... which I know I know... I STILL need to post pictures. I will do that soon, I promise - just as soon as I get the taxes done :P G'nite all!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Case of the Missing Bible...
Okay, I am SOOOOO excited!
Brad and I got married September 5, 2004. Shortly before that I could not find my Bible, but didn't think about it much since my apartment was disasterous as I was moving some of the stuff into the apartment we were going to be living in and of course that place was just as chaotic because we're working on combing his and my stuff and getting rid of stuff... blah blah.
Okay, this Bible was given to me by my Aunt on May 21, 1995, the day I was confirmed at the church I grew up in. It was my favorite Bible, lots of highlights, lots of notes, if I needed to reference a verse or find something, I knew right where to go for it, or I knew what side of the page to be looking on for it if I just knew which book I was looking for.
So it was August 2004 last I remember seeing/using it and other times I just used other Bibles. I really wasn't concerned until a couple months later where I just really could not find it. I know it sounds odd to stress over a Bible, but for 1, if you know me, you know I stress about everything, and 2, it just has carried a lot of meaning for me and is very special to me.
I had prayed that it would be found, others had helped look to - I mean like at the church we went to, there are a lot of spare Bibles to use and pretty much we looked for all of them. Oh, did I mention my maiden name: Michelle Schuelke w/ the date: May 21, 1995 is engraved on it?
So figure if someone has it or if it was around the church, surely someone would know it was mine. Anyhow, NOTHING. Honestly, I was sad about it, even until recently. I had stopped praying for it years ago, and probably less than a month ago, I have started praying for it to come back because as odd as this may sound, I just felt like I needed it!
Tonight we went to a dinner at Kenosha Bible Church (KBC) where we got married and went to church for many years (now we go to Living Light, Racine) and had our babysitter Rosemarie. Talking to her as Brad was about to take her home so I could sit and eat, she asked "Oh, was your last name Schuulll" I'm like "Schuelke" - Yes... so she tells me this story and as she even asked, I just knew what she was going to tell me... Somehow a couple months ago, she had picked up my Bible by accident at church (KBC). She has one that looks like mine w/o the engraving and had set hers down next to another Bible in the kitchen at KBC and accidentally grabbed the one that isn't hers. When she got it home, she realized it was not hers and was going to return it to the church. She forgot to and then just recently she looked at it and realized that it might be mine! Sure enough it is!!!!!!!
So when Brad took her home, she ran in and got my Bible that has been missing for over 4 years!!! There is a bulletin in it from August 1, 2004 so I am assuming that is last day I had it. Funny enough, our wedding invitation is also in there along w/ a picture of us from well, obviously before we were married! How did someone NOT look in there and realize that was mine years ago??? I don't know, but I am so thankful and Praise God that he has led it to the correct owner once again... me! :)
I think it is just crazy how things work like that. I knew a couple years ago, I had to pray to let go of that Bible and move on. I know that may not make sense to some, but for me, it was hard to do. And it's just crazy that I recently started praying for it again and now, I have it!!! I am SO excited and thank you if you made it through my story and are able to enjoy in this blessing with me! I would love to know what happened to it, how it ended up in the kitchen at KBC (trust me, we looked there too and I was not a stranger to the kitchen in that church when I went there). And I'm so excited because the picture of me and Brad in there is so cute, probably from almost 5 years ago!
Praise the Lord, I am very blessed. Thank you for sharing in my joy!
Brad and I got married September 5, 2004. Shortly before that I could not find my Bible, but didn't think about it much since my apartment was disasterous as I was moving some of the stuff into the apartment we were going to be living in and of course that place was just as chaotic because we're working on combing his and my stuff and getting rid of stuff... blah blah.
Okay, this Bible was given to me by my Aunt on May 21, 1995, the day I was confirmed at the church I grew up in. It was my favorite Bible, lots of highlights, lots of notes, if I needed to reference a verse or find something, I knew right where to go for it, or I knew what side of the page to be looking on for it if I just knew which book I was looking for.
So it was August 2004 last I remember seeing/using it and other times I just used other Bibles. I really wasn't concerned until a couple months later where I just really could not find it. I know it sounds odd to stress over a Bible, but for 1, if you know me, you know I stress about everything, and 2, it just has carried a lot of meaning for me and is very special to me.
I had prayed that it would be found, others had helped look to - I mean like at the church we went to, there are a lot of spare Bibles to use and pretty much we looked for all of them. Oh, did I mention my maiden name: Michelle Schuelke w/ the date: May 21, 1995 is engraved on it?
So figure if someone has it or if it was around the church, surely someone would know it was mine. Anyhow, NOTHING. Honestly, I was sad about it, even until recently. I had stopped praying for it years ago, and probably less than a month ago, I have started praying for it to come back because as odd as this may sound, I just felt like I needed it!
Tonight we went to a dinner at Kenosha Bible Church (KBC) where we got married and went to church for many years (now we go to Living Light, Racine) and had our babysitter Rosemarie. Talking to her as Brad was about to take her home so I could sit and eat, she asked "Oh, was your last name Schuulll" I'm like "Schuelke" - Yes... so she tells me this story and as she even asked, I just knew what she was going to tell me... Somehow a couple months ago, she had picked up my Bible by accident at church (KBC). She has one that looks like mine w/o the engraving and had set hers down next to another Bible in the kitchen at KBC and accidentally grabbed the one that isn't hers. When she got it home, she realized it was not hers and was going to return it to the church. She forgot to and then just recently she looked at it and realized that it might be mine! Sure enough it is!!!!!!!
So when Brad took her home, she ran in and got my Bible that has been missing for over 4 years!!! There is a bulletin in it from August 1, 2004 so I am assuming that is last day I had it. Funny enough, our wedding invitation is also in there along w/ a picture of us from well, obviously before we were married! How did someone NOT look in there and realize that was mine years ago??? I don't know, but I am so thankful and Praise God that he has led it to the correct owner once again... me! :)
I think it is just crazy how things work like that. I knew a couple years ago, I had to pray to let go of that Bible and move on. I know that may not make sense to some, but for me, it was hard to do. And it's just crazy that I recently started praying for it again and now, I have it!!! I am SO excited and thank you if you made it through my story and are able to enjoy in this blessing with me! I would love to know what happened to it, how it ended up in the kitchen at KBC (trust me, we looked there too and I was not a stranger to the kitchen in that church when I went there). And I'm so excited because the picture of me and Brad in there is so cute, probably from almost 5 years ago!
Praise the Lord, I am very blessed. Thank you for sharing in my joy!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Take One.... Two!
We purchased some strawberries as I had a craving for strawberries dipped in chocolate! Have for a while, but of course w/ the V-day around the corner they are plastered everywhere.
So I wash and cut up strawberries and after Rachel Grace is done eating her dinner, she just loved eating those strawberries! Mmmm, it's been a while, she kept wanting more, we would just give one individually. But then, I decided to let her pick her own from the bowl. Oh her eyes just lit up when she saw that bowl overflowing w/ strawberries!!!
I said to her "Just take One," as she looked them over and touched one on the right, then one on the left. I said again, "Rachel Grace, just take one please." She picks each up that she had been eyeballing and said "Two!" It was SO adorable! I really think she knew she was taking two!!! It was just amazing my little girl who isn't even two said that! We laughed and smiled in amazement, probably told her good job! But then once again either I or Brad said "Rachel Grace can you put one back, you need to just take one" and she put one back and I believe said "One."
She just never ceases to amaze me, really! Every day something new, so many stories that happen so quickly, and then I forget about posting it because it's on to the next new thing! She just WOW's me so often and I am so blessed to have her as a daughter!
So I wash and cut up strawberries and after Rachel Grace is done eating her dinner, she just loved eating those strawberries! Mmmm, it's been a while, she kept wanting more, we would just give one individually. But then, I decided to let her pick her own from the bowl. Oh her eyes just lit up when she saw that bowl overflowing w/ strawberries!!!
I said to her "Just take One," as she looked them over and touched one on the right, then one on the left. I said again, "Rachel Grace, just take one please." She picks each up that she had been eyeballing and said "Two!" It was SO adorable! I really think she knew she was taking two!!! It was just amazing my little girl who isn't even two said that! We laughed and smiled in amazement, probably told her good job! But then once again either I or Brad said "Rachel Grace can you put one back, you need to just take one" and she put one back and I believe said "One."
She just never ceases to amaze me, really! Every day something new, so many stories that happen so quickly, and then I forget about posting it because it's on to the next new thing! She just WOW's me so often and I am so blessed to have her as a daughter!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Finally time to write?
So I should be working, but by the time I get into anything, I'll start falling asleep, so why not blog?
So I stay in my PJ's most of the time, and my PJ's are mainly sweatpants, t-shirt, sweatshirt or just whatever is comfy. My underneath shirt was one of my old shirts from work that says "Menards." My wonderfully inquisitive daughter always loves to ask "What is this?" or "What is that?" to items, letters, numbers, anything. So she was pointing to the letters saying "What is this?"
I would tell her what each letter was. I believe we went through them all. She points to the "D" and says "Dadda, dadda" in her sweet sweet little voice. I, in amazement say "Good job! D is for Dadda! Great job Rachel Grace!"
Then she points to the "M" and says "Momma, momma" - Again in amazement I say "Yes! M is for Momma!" She goes back to the "d" and says "Dadda" again, back and forth a bit, asking what the other letters are. When I asked her to point to a letter she would do so also!
I got the idea "Rachel Grace, do you know what an "R" is for? Rachel Grace" She says "race?" I said "Yes, Rachel Grace." And she was going back and forth with all of them!
Many, many hours later once Brad was home and well after dinner too, my shirt was showing again and she pointed to the "d" saying "Dadda." So I call Brad in to see if she'll do them all and sure enough she did! I just asked her where the letter was, she pointed and says "dadda, momma, or race" (She always says "race" for her name, sometimes she'll say something sounding like "ai-che ace" (leaving out the r, l, and g)).
So anyways that was adorable and it's little things like that where each day I want to write about them and share them with the world, but never seem to have the time to post!
She's just this little person ready and eager to learn and with how quickly she is picking up on some of this stuff, I feel like I might not be doing enough with her. Just a couple of days ago, I was coloring with her, so I went through the alphabet, writing each letter, naming it and asking her to repeat it. She did - loved it! There were I think 2 letters she didn't do. It's interesting because even in a book if she isn't sure of an answer (like where is the rhino? And she's not exactly sure which one is the rhino), she'll either take my hand to point or not say anything at all.
Well that thing called sleep is calling me now, so before I start typing all crazy, I must be going. Thanks for sharing in the life of my beautiful girl! Hopefully I'll get to share more son :)
So I stay in my PJ's most of the time, and my PJ's are mainly sweatpants, t-shirt, sweatshirt or just whatever is comfy. My underneath shirt was one of my old shirts from work that says "Menards." My wonderfully inquisitive daughter always loves to ask "What is this?" or "What is that?" to items, letters, numbers, anything. So she was pointing to the letters saying "What is this?"
I would tell her what each letter was. I believe we went through them all. She points to the "D" and says "Dadda, dadda" in her sweet sweet little voice. I, in amazement say "Good job! D is for Dadda! Great job Rachel Grace!"
Then she points to the "M" and says "Momma, momma" - Again in amazement I say "Yes! M is for Momma!" She goes back to the "d" and says "Dadda" again, back and forth a bit, asking what the other letters are. When I asked her to point to a letter she would do so also!
I got the idea "Rachel Grace, do you know what an "R" is for? Rachel Grace" She says "race?" I said "Yes, Rachel Grace." And she was going back and forth with all of them!
Many, many hours later once Brad was home and well after dinner too, my shirt was showing again and she pointed to the "d" saying "Dadda." So I call Brad in to see if she'll do them all and sure enough she did! I just asked her where the letter was, she pointed and says "dadda, momma, or race" (She always says "race" for her name, sometimes she'll say something sounding like "ai-che ace" (leaving out the r, l, and g)).
So anyways that was adorable and it's little things like that where each day I want to write about them and share them with the world, but never seem to have the time to post!
She's just this little person ready and eager to learn and with how quickly she is picking up on some of this stuff, I feel like I might not be doing enough with her. Just a couple of days ago, I was coloring with her, so I went through the alphabet, writing each letter, naming it and asking her to repeat it. She did - loved it! There were I think 2 letters she didn't do. It's interesting because even in a book if she isn't sure of an answer (like where is the rhino? And she's not exactly sure which one is the rhino), she'll either take my hand to point or not say anything at all.
Well that thing called sleep is calling me now, so before I start typing all crazy, I must be going. Thanks for sharing in the life of my beautiful girl! Hopefully I'll get to share more son :)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
It's Been Busy
Life has been quite chaotic lately which is why I haven't wrote. A lot that I have wanted to share, adorable things Rachel Grace does and what not.
I'm just exhausted though. I am looking forward to seeing my little boy soon, but I am stressed about all that needs to be done before hand. Even now, I'm only getting to write a phrase at a time and then off with my Rachel Grace. I love her, I do, like I said, I'm just tired.
Okay, so I started this an hour ago, but have not had time to share. I hope I can update y'all later.
I'm just exhausted though. I am looking forward to seeing my little boy soon, but I am stressed about all that needs to be done before hand. Even now, I'm only getting to write a phrase at a time and then off with my Rachel Grace. I love her, I do, like I said, I'm just tired.
Okay, so I started this an hour ago, but have not had time to share. I hope I can update y'all later.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My Sweet Girl
Oh how I love my darling little girl. She is growing up so quickly! This is her 7th night in the big girl bed. She is doing better than I thought, however still waking up through the night. Last night was in pain, I believe gas as it was several times and she was farting a lot :( But tonight something else is bothering her, so far only once up. But she just wanted me to hold her and cuddle her and oh how sweet it is.
I really think she is overall intuitive about the baby coming because it has been a couple of weeks that she has been waking up. She knows there is change - well obviously, she has a new room now! But before we even moved her to a new room, she had started waking up, she has become more cuddly and wanting "mommy" more - which makes me feel so loved but at the same time sometimes I just need a break because I am tired.
I am 85% sure that she is going to be left handed. She does better eating with her left hand. I love it because she'll be using the spoon or fork in her left hand and I'll ask her to try her right hand and she does! She has done this for a few weeks and it just amazes me. If I ask her to try her left hand, she'll look at it and put the spoon or fork back in her left hand. Also when changing her if I ask her to give me her "right" or "left" arm, she gives me the correct one! I must say I think she knows right from left better than some much older kids I know, lol, but we'll see if it continues or not!
Oh, what else does she do that I have been forgetting to write about - well, her memory is amazing and just knowing where you put something a couple days prior or if you are taking her somewhere she'll remember something particular about that place and say it. At church she knows exactly where to go to get to the nursery - and that happened just the 2nd or 3rd time we were there!
Of course along with all of that come the tantrums and well, she knows what she wants and she wants what she wants, so definitly some attitude in this little child. Of course patience takes time and even I need more patience at times. But she is understanding better every day it seems. Every day a new word, a new something. It just never stops, she is like this little person that is absorbing everything around her and understanding more and more and communicating more every day in ways that are understandable to most people! I just love it!
Oh she's just going to continue to amaze me every day I know and I look forward to her interactions with her little brother. She's such a good big sister already, I just know she is going to do great!
I really think she is overall intuitive about the baby coming because it has been a couple of weeks that she has been waking up. She knows there is change - well obviously, she has a new room now! But before we even moved her to a new room, she had started waking up, she has become more cuddly and wanting "mommy" more - which makes me feel so loved but at the same time sometimes I just need a break because I am tired.
I am 85% sure that she is going to be left handed. She does better eating with her left hand. I love it because she'll be using the spoon or fork in her left hand and I'll ask her to try her right hand and she does! She has done this for a few weeks and it just amazes me. If I ask her to try her left hand, she'll look at it and put the spoon or fork back in her left hand. Also when changing her if I ask her to give me her "right" or "left" arm, she gives me the correct one! I must say I think she knows right from left better than some much older kids I know, lol, but we'll see if it continues or not!
Oh, what else does she do that I have been forgetting to write about - well, her memory is amazing and just knowing where you put something a couple days prior or if you are taking her somewhere she'll remember something particular about that place and say it. At church she knows exactly where to go to get to the nursery - and that happened just the 2nd or 3rd time we were there!
Of course along with all of that come the tantrums and well, she knows what she wants and she wants what she wants, so definitly some attitude in this little child. Of course patience takes time and even I need more patience at times. But she is understanding better every day it seems. Every day a new word, a new something. It just never stops, she is like this little person that is absorbing everything around her and understanding more and more and communicating more every day in ways that are understandable to most people! I just love it!
Oh she's just going to continue to amaze me every day I know and I look forward to her interactions with her little brother. She's such a good big sister already, I just know she is going to do great!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
My Test Results
So, I said it to them before, it was a big inconvenience to do the 3 hour Gestational Diabetes test (Brad had to take a day off, well at least a 1/2 day of sick time), but thankfully it is over with, and I do not have Gestational Diabetes. Yes, that is what I told them and it was a very frustrating time trying to work the stupid test into my schedule ( I pretty much begged to do the 1 hour again, but no). I am sorry for those that do, but I knew I did not and I am fairly aware of what goes on with my body that if I thought I had it, I would've maybe been a little more on board with the test.
Here are my results:
After fasting: 83 - needs to be less than 95
1 Hour after: 161 - needs to be less than 180
2 Hours after: 119 - needs to be less than 155
3 Hours after: 92 - needs to be less than 140
So not even close or borderline. It was a very frustrating and stressful day one that I never wish to repeat. You do not make a pregnant woman go 12 hours without eating. There is something very not right about that, especially when I can hardly do that when not pregnant. Anyways, rant over, there are my results. It is finished.
Here are my results:
After fasting: 83 - needs to be less than 95
1 Hour after: 161 - needs to be less than 180
2 Hours after: 119 - needs to be less than 155
3 Hours after: 92 - needs to be less than 140
So not even close or borderline. It was a very frustrating and stressful day one that I never wish to repeat. You do not make a pregnant woman go 12 hours without eating. There is something very not right about that, especially when I can hardly do that when not pregnant. Anyways, rant over, there are my results. It is finished.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Big Girl Bed
My little baby girl is growing up. Very bittersweet as it's amazing how mature she is becoming, yet at the same time, I miss that sweet little baby she was. She was always an independent girl, but now even more so, she is taking it to another level. At the same time though she is becoming so cuddly, at a time when it's hard for me to cuddle.
So, we were at my parents Friday night, Rachel Grace stayed there Saturday night, and when we came home Sunday night, we cleaned up a bit more, moved things around more and had our first night attempt at Rachel Grace sleeping on the twin mattress on the floor.
She went down perfectly. Of course, she was exhausted as it had taken us past her bed time to get everything ready, but it was so precious. She slept the night through and awoke around 7:30am. I of course heard her first and she was saying "Momma" and playing a bit. I was happy she stayed on her bed. I go in there and she's taking her PJ's off! LOL - it was cute!
She also took a wonderful nap in the big girl bed in the afternoon. I really thought she would sleep in the crib for her nap. And she stayed in bed until I went in to get her! I was so proud of her. Just another day where she amazes me with what she does.
Well we get to Monday night. Hmmm, different story. I'm still proud of my little girl because how can I not be, but she was a little scared tonight for some reason. Or something is bothering her, it is hard to tell. She was in there about 1/2 hour. I started hearing her talk a bit. Brad and I were talking in the family room and then out comes this adorable little girl carrying her blankie and one of her babies. It was so precious! We laughed because it was so cute, but she was so sad and scared.
She had also gone to her old room previously because she had set one of her other babies on the rocking chair in there. Oh, it was so cute! And she was so sad :( I held her, then Brad held her, walked around a bit and laid her down again. Not sure if she'll sleep through the night there tonight, but we'll see soon. It would be great if she did, but I definitly didn't think it would've been as easy as it was the night before!
Oh that note, I must go to sleep also, but wanted to share the joy of my precious baby! :_
So, we were at my parents Friday night, Rachel Grace stayed there Saturday night, and when we came home Sunday night, we cleaned up a bit more, moved things around more and had our first night attempt at Rachel Grace sleeping on the twin mattress on the floor.
She went down perfectly. Of course, she was exhausted as it had taken us past her bed time to get everything ready, but it was so precious. She slept the night through and awoke around 7:30am. I of course heard her first and she was saying "Momma" and playing a bit. I was happy she stayed on her bed. I go in there and she's taking her PJ's off! LOL - it was cute!
She also took a wonderful nap in the big girl bed in the afternoon. I really thought she would sleep in the crib for her nap. And she stayed in bed until I went in to get her! I was so proud of her. Just another day where she amazes me with what she does.
Well we get to Monday night. Hmmm, different story. I'm still proud of my little girl because how can I not be, but she was a little scared tonight for some reason. Or something is bothering her, it is hard to tell. She was in there about 1/2 hour. I started hearing her talk a bit. Brad and I were talking in the family room and then out comes this adorable little girl carrying her blankie and one of her babies. It was so precious! We laughed because it was so cute, but she was so sad and scared.
She had also gone to her old room previously because she had set one of her other babies on the rocking chair in there. Oh, it was so cute! And she was so sad :( I held her, then Brad held her, walked around a bit and laid her down again. Not sure if she'll sleep through the night there tonight, but we'll see soon. It would be great if she did, but I definitly didn't think it would've been as easy as it was the night before!
Oh that note, I must go to sleep also, but wanted to share the joy of my precious baby! :_
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Just over an hour left...
At the hospital, I got my blood drawn, then they gave me the sugar drink and I finished it finally at 8:16. Last blood drawing will be at 11:16. At least they have wireless here so, Hi, I'm here!
-12 this morning when I left the house - brrrr. Garage door didn't want to open, I'm like, see not suppose to go there. Okay, so I'm still not choosing Joy through the midst of this. I am tired. I got more sleep last night than usual, but the lack of nutrients in me right now is totally draining! I'm not as dizzy as I thought I would get, but I'm also not up much or doing much. Plus, they did give me something to keep in my system which must be keeping me afloat.
I did pack in the oatmeal and cheese last night too, hehe :)
Many people have come and gone in here, but not me, I'm the only one that has been here all morning. I had planned on getting some other stuff done this morning before I was sure they had wireless, but now I'm distracted with chatting, posting, and what not!
Brad took only a half day today - using sick time for half the day so that I could come do this test. I wish he could take a half sick day where we could actually spend some time together. Time seems to be lacking as of late since there has been so much going on. When we think we might actually have an evening to sit and talk or work together on getting this or that done, it snows and he has to go snow blow. I know it's life, but it has been very difficult for us to find time together lately. Quality time at that.
We are praying and hoping things will work out for this weekend though. So long as weather cooperates, we are going to take Rachel Grace to my parents and she is going to spend the day and night there without us on Saturday so that we can take a mini trip to the Dells! I am very excited, though it will be our first night away from her. I should say - MY first night away from her if Brad working 3rd shift counts and yeah, he was actually gone for 2 weeks.
So I know she will be fine and do well, but I of course get a little sad leaving my baby behind (well one of my babies). It really won't even be for long, we intended to go two nights, but since we wouldn't get up there until around 9pm, we figure we'll just stay at my parents on Friday and then leave in the morning. Please pray for good weather here too because we really need this break. We haven't gone anywhere just the two of us since about 6-7 weeks before she was born and we know we won't have that opportunity again for a very long time!
Back from my 3rd blood drawing. Fun, fun.
Time to try to get more stuff done.
-12 this morning when I left the house - brrrr. Garage door didn't want to open, I'm like, see not suppose to go there. Okay, so I'm still not choosing Joy through the midst of this. I am tired. I got more sleep last night than usual, but the lack of nutrients in me right now is totally draining! I'm not as dizzy as I thought I would get, but I'm also not up much or doing much. Plus, they did give me something to keep in my system which must be keeping me afloat.
I did pack in the oatmeal and cheese last night too, hehe :)
Many people have come and gone in here, but not me, I'm the only one that has been here all morning. I had planned on getting some other stuff done this morning before I was sure they had wireless, but now I'm distracted with chatting, posting, and what not!
Brad took only a half day today - using sick time for half the day so that I could come do this test. I wish he could take a half sick day where we could actually spend some time together. Time seems to be lacking as of late since there has been so much going on. When we think we might actually have an evening to sit and talk or work together on getting this or that done, it snows and he has to go snow blow. I know it's life, but it has been very difficult for us to find time together lately. Quality time at that.
We are praying and hoping things will work out for this weekend though. So long as weather cooperates, we are going to take Rachel Grace to my parents and she is going to spend the day and night there without us on Saturday so that we can take a mini trip to the Dells! I am very excited, though it will be our first night away from her. I should say - MY first night away from her if Brad working 3rd shift counts and yeah, he was actually gone for 2 weeks.
So I know she will be fine and do well, but I of course get a little sad leaving my baby behind (well one of my babies). It really won't even be for long, we intended to go two nights, but since we wouldn't get up there until around 9pm, we figure we'll just stay at my parents on Friday and then leave in the morning. Please pray for good weather here too because we really need this break. We haven't gone anywhere just the two of us since about 6-7 weeks before she was born and we know we won't have that opportunity again for a very long time!
Back from my 3rd blood drawing. Fun, fun.
Time to try to get more stuff done.
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