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6/26/08

“So How’re You Feeling?”…

I seem to be getting that question quite a bit lately (and Shawn’s getting the corresponding, “How’s Jen feeling?”). I love that people are so thoughtful in asking, but I realized that I don’t really have that interesting of an answer. A few weeks ago, I could talk about morning sickness, or fatigue, or concerns, or a myraid of other things.

Right now, my best answer is, “I’m feeling pretty good.”Don’t get me wrong, I’m not loving the heat, have had a bit of heartburn, and have had some weird ligament pains, but overall…I’m feeling pretty great! In large part, nausea and even extreme fatigue seem to be a thing of the past. It looks like I’m finally into the second trimester honeymoon!I’m feeling the baby moving more and more, which is such a great reminder as to why I’m willingly putting my body through all this crazy stuff. Feeling a baby moving inside of me is one of the weirdest, most wonderful feelings in the world. Shawn’s not felt a kick yet, but he did feel what was probably the baby’s head or rump brushing back and forth on the side of my belly.

I’m still adjusting to my changing body and the new challenges those changes bring. Getting up from the couch or the floor used to done without thought, and now takes quite a bit of effort! I’m finding that squatting is harder, and this belly is just…well, it’s in my way! I actually found that tying my shoelace was work the other day, and felt so typically pregnant!! Sometimes I feel ginormous and am surprised that I don’t actually look as big as I feel. At other times, I forget about my growing my belly and run it into things like…oh, the bathroom stall. = )

Luckily, nobody’s been around to see me look like an idiot and then apologize to our son, but it makes me feel goofy nonetheless.

Shawn and I are headed to camp on Sunday! I’m really excited, this is probably my last chance to go for a couple of years, and is also “my girls’” last year of Jr. High camp. I love camp, I’ve always loved camp, and I’m really looking forward to it. If you think of it, I’d also appreciate your prayers.

It’s going to be hot, and while I’m grateful that our sleeping quarters are air conditioned, I know how easily I get uncomfortable right now in the heat. I also know that I just won’t be able to be as active as I have been in the past (no rock climbing wall and zip line for me), and I’ll require more sleep than I usually do. I’m nervous about making it through the week with my sanity and relative calm in tact. We always come back exhausted from camp, but I really can’t afford to exhaust myself this time. Also, I haven’t let myself dwell on this, but if we have some sort of emergency, we’re not very close to a hospital, and are certainly very far away from our OB. Even with all that stuff in mind, I’m still really, really excited for camp this year.I think that’s really about it for baby updates at the moment. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

7/07/08

22 Weeks 1 Day…

Well, we’re home from camp…relatively unscathed! I was glad that I went to camp, but I have to admit that I’m even more glad to be back. I knew being pregnant at camp would be different, but I’m not sure that I realized how much a toll it would take on me physically. Shawn’s likewise pretty exhausted, but we’re limping through this week of recovery together.

By the end of the week, the infection I had thankfully cleared up (although Shawn thinks he might’ve gotten another sinus infection, and I’m battling what might be some kind of stomach virus…ugh!), so I’m really grateful to be done with antibiotics. I know the Dr. says they’re safe, but I feel really, really, REALLY unsure about being on medication so often.

On a lighter note, I feel the need to share Shawn’s first foot in his mouth pregnancy experience. First of all, please know that I have one amazing husband. He’s incredibly sweet and has made it absolutely clear that he still loves me and is attracted to me, and that he loves what my body is doing in holding our child. That being said….

The toilet in our master bathroom broke right before we left for camp, so right when we got back, we went on a toilet search. We found a great deal on a toilet at Lowe’s. It was originally about $280, on sale for $60 (We ended up not being able to get it, which is a long, frustrating story about the incompetency of Lowe’s. Feel free to ask Shawn, I’m sure he’d love to vent about it!). The toilet was wider than the usual toilet with an “ultra comfort” seat. We were talking to the manager, trying to figure out how to get the toilet, and he looked at us a little strangely. “Do you realize that this toilet is extra wide?” Shawn answered, “Yeah, we have room for it in the bathroom, that’s not a big problem.” The manager said tactfully, “I mean, this is a toilet designed for handicapped or overweight people, and I’m not sure that it’d be the best fit for you guys.”

To which Shawn replied….”Well, (pointing to me) she IS pregnant.”

Thankfully, I’m well aware that Shawn doesn’t actually think I’m overweight or handicapped, even pregnant, I was just surprised!

Sometimes the simple act of walking quickly makes him smile like that. Have I mentioned how much I love being a Mom?

Poor boy fell in some leafless bushes and got a little scratched up. That still doesn’t stop him from smiling!

Nothing makes me feel more like I’m a Mom to boys then when I spend twenty minutes stacking  rocks…

…and jumping in leaves

When I asked him what we should say instead of cheese, he said “macaroni pizza!” Then we both giggled and I took the photo - 

Sweet Bug was so proud of himself for picking up this stick that he insisted I take a photo of him. 

And as a pretty appropriate end to our park fun, Bug promptly fell off the tire swing moments after I snapped this photo. The ensuing crying was so dramatic, I scooped up both boys and headed straight home before someone assumed he was dying and called 911. Yes. He’s really that loud.

It was okay though – we picked up rocks, we threw mulch, we held up sticks, we stacked rocks, we jumped in leaves, and we dove head first into bushes. Pretty much, we enjoyed all the fun our neighborhood park had to offer!

I think we all of benefit from a little change of scenery, and the boys enjoy being able to burn off some of their boundless energy. Because I didn’t want Shawn to feel like he was missing out on all of our fun, I also took tons of photos to document our adventures. Apparently I was especially picture happy on the afternoon we spent at the park, because this post happens to be part one of two park pictures posts.

I know, I’m sorry. But look at that face – wouldn’t you want eight thousand photos of that, too?

When we tell Bug to smile for a picture, this is the face we’ve been getting lately. It’s pretty stinkin’ cute AND it’s much better than the “look of death” we got previously:

Bear really enjoyed picking up rocks at the park. We went down the slide a couple of times and did a little bit of climbing, but clearly…picking up rocks is where it’s at!

…although picking up sticks comes in a very close second

I know it’s hard to believe judging by the way my boys are dressed, but I did indeed take these photos in February. One of the nice things about Texas weather is that we don’t worry about going stir crazy in the winter. Throw on a sweater and jeans, take ‘em outside, and enjoy the beautiful February sunshine!

If you’re gonna sport a Sean John jacket, the only real option is to let your unna-wares hang out. Especially if your underwear is polka dot and your Mom made them. That, my friends – is a real man.

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6/11/08

Cloth Diapering…

I believe that Shawn and I have made the decision to cloth diaper. It’s an idea I’ve been rolling around in my head for awhile, though Shawn was a bit more reluctant. I remember my Mom using cloth diapers and safety pins for the four of us, and I think Shawn was imagining himself putting a load of poopy diapers in the washing machine and having the constant stench of poo in the house.Little did he know that a LOT has changed in the world of cloth diapering! There are so many options now, it’s unbelievable. It’s 1) Cheaper in the long run, and 2) Much more environmentally friendly.

Anyway, I know sometimes people look at us like we’re freaks or hippies when we tell them we’re cloth diapering, so I thought I’d go ahead and let ya’ll know now so you can get the, “what the heck are they thinking?” out of your systems. If any of you have or are planning to cloth diaper, please feel free to give me any tips and tricks you might have!

6/17/08

The Cutest Baby in the World…

So we had our big ultrasound yesterday! Let me just start off by saying that I think that’s one of the coolest Day After Father’s Day gifts Shawn could’ve gotten! Neither one of us had really been freaking out the gender of our baby; we weren’t particularly nervous or excited, until the day of our appointment, when we all of a sudden found ourselves VERY excited.

Our OB has two ultrasound techs. One is a very curt, slightly bossy, difficult to understand woman, and one is a warm and friendly woman. I was relieved when the warm and friendly woman called us back. She actually remembered us from our emergency ultrasounds and said, “Now this is for a much more exciting reason than why you were here last time, huh?” As I lay down and she squirted the jelly stuff on my belly (which was pleasantly warm, not chilly like I expected), the whole experience felt very surreal.

We recognized our baby right away and were immediately struck with how much the little one had grown since we saw it last. We saw the baby’s legs almost immediately, which were long and stretched out (which is undoubtedly Shawn’s gene there!). It was crazy how clearly we could see the little legs (crossed at the ankles) and toes. We saw its tiny little fingers, its chest, stomach, heartbeat, face, and head. I was surprised by how much the tech was checking for, though she did a great job of showing us what everything was, and letting us know what she was checking and if everything looked alright. The baby’s perfect. Healthy as can be, everything is in the right place and is developing just right. She said it’s measuring five days ahead, but that it shouldn’t affect my due date. Shawn and I just think we have a little overachiever.

Our tech actually switched over to the 4-D ultrasound several times, and even printed out several 4-D pictures for us. Apparently you’re supposed to pay out of pocket for those, but she said, “I don’t know where these 4-D pictures keep coming from, they’re just coming out of thin air!” I don’t know that we would’ve paid to have the 4-D done, but it really was incredible to see. Our baby yawned, put its fist up to its left eye, furrowed its eyebrow, and bicycle kicked for a minute or two. The little one’s favorite position seemed to be bringing its feet up to its forehead, almost. In one of the pictures, its left hand is across its forehead as if the baby is shielding itself from the paparazzi, and its left foot is almost touching the hand that’s across the forehead. We’ve got one flexible little baby in there!What a joy it was to see our little one, to see the little hands stretching, and to realize how MUCH it moves around in there!

At the beginning of the ultrasound, its rump was towards my ribs with its head facing my feet. The tech let me use the restroom halfway through (I was told to come with a full bladder, and boy did I!). When I got back on the table, the baby had used all the extra room without the full bladder getting in the way, to do a complete flip! I had always just assumed that the baby lay horizontal in the uterus, and pretty much stayed that way. I had no idea that it could not only lay vertically, but also do a little gymnastics routine in there!We did find out the gender, and while it’s going to be REALLY hard to keep it a surprise, that’s still our plan!

I can’t tell you how incredibly blessed I feel that we have a healthy baby in there; we’re certainly blessed beyond what we deserve. Our next appointment is in four weeks, I believe it was July 15th, which will be just a standard appointment. I’m still feeling the baby move, although not really more or less than I was before. I’ve not been struck with nausea in a few days, although poor Shawn seems to be picking up the slack for me in that area. After our appointment, we went to Olive Garden to celebrate Father’s Day, and Shawn just felt gross afterwards. He spent the better part of last night getting sick, though we’re unsure if it’s a virus or food poisoning. It’s a helpless feeling to see him so miserable, which helps me understand how me must’ve felt when I was so sick. I’m praying that whatever he has will move through his system quickly, and he’ll be back to himself soon (I have to admit that I’m also praying that I don’t catch this if it’s a virus). Even though Shawn being sick has temporarily tempered our excitement, you can bet that we’re still just busting at the seams to know that we have a healthy, good looking, little half-sea urchin, half-baby in there.

Since Shawn’s usually out of town for the big game, it falls on me to figure out how and if we’ll celebrate the big game. As it happens, unless the Bengals are playing….

you can stop laughing now

….Unless the Bengals are playing, I’m much more interested in the food of Super Bowl than the actual game. In fact, the order of things about which I am excited on Super Bowl Sunday is as follows:

1. Wearing a hoodie. 2. Eating my favorite snack food. 3. The commercials. 4. The game. 5. The halftime show.

As you can see, I was very interested in making sure our party included appropriate clothing and food. I wasn’t sure MY favorite snack food would be Bug’s and Bear’s favorites, so I decided to make them a little buffet of their favorites.

Grapes, pretzels, cheese cubes, graham crackers. Can you handle the Super Bowl craziness?

[J. Bug very sweetly making sure C. Bear got to have another cheese cube.]

The boys were actually thoroughly excited that not only did they get to eat their favorite foods for dinner, but they ALSO got to eat them in the living room WHILE they were watching TV.

I figure I have another year or two of putting on this alleged Super Bowl party before they start to realize that it’s lame and demand pizza, chili, and friends who actually care about the game.

Until then, if cheese cubes on the living room table is what makes their little hearts feel special, then cheese cubes it will be!

J. Bug insisted I take a photo of this very large stick he was picking up. Strong boy, right there.

It is ridiculous how much he looks like Shawn. Why, hello there little tiny Shawn. You are adorable.

Let’s just ignore the fact that I woke up that morning, threw my hair in a ponytail, and didn’t touch it again, shall we?

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite photos of me and J. Bug. His eyes, his cheeks, his little widow’s peak, his cute button nose – that sure is one kissable kid! 

From our family to yours- may your Valentine’s Day be filled with love, laughter, and chocolate!

Since the day Shawn and I began talking about buying a house in Texas, he has been strongly expressing his desire for a dog. Given that I am home most days and wasn’t eager to be the primary caregiver of this dog that Shawn wanted, I was…well, less eager. Not that I didn’t want a dog. I just wasn’t excited about the prospect of cleaning up poo from the carpet after changing dirty diapers, vacuuming dog hair from the couches, and dealing with the boys being awoken by a dog barking at a squirrel.

Still, I love Shawn. In fact, I love him more than I hate cleaning poop – which is saying a lot. So I acquiesced to eventually – some day, in the future, perhaps, probably, maybe – getting a dog. But then I gave Shawn a list of things this pretend-dog must have/do/not have/not do. For instance, I wanted a girl dog because dang it if there isn’t puh-lenty of testosterone in this house already. She needed to not be a “barker,” to be small enough that I could control her on walks with the double stroller, and not a shedder. I did not want a puppy. Having a puppy is a lot like having a newborn, and I’m cool with being done with that phase. She also needed to be large enough to help me feel safe when Shawn is out of town, and I of course wanted her to be gentle with the kids.

Easy enough list, eh?

So I have this good friend from North Carolina. Her name is Patrice, and she is on my top ten list of people I miss the crap out of. Patrice had been posting about a sweet little boy in a Russian orphanage who had EB. As I looked at the photos and read Anton’s story, something stirred in my heart. Shawn and I both individually prayed about adopting him, but we both felt God telling us that this wasn’t our path.

Still, I poured over pictures of Anton and prayed for him on a daily basis. After just a few days, a family had come forward who was very interested in inviting Anton to become their son! Later, Patrice texted me an address and asked how far away it was from our home in Texas. The address was of the Delgado family – the very family pursuing Anton’s adoption. Would you believe she lives ten minutes from us?

Of course you would. I, however was utterly shocked. It took months for Vanessa and I to get together – despite Patrice being quite insistent that we would immediately hit it off – but we finally did.

And yes, we did immediately hit it off. Patrice, you were right. There, I said it.

Seriously, though. I quickly found Vanessa to be an instant friendship that has been marked by genuine compassion and integrity. Friends like that don’t just happen every day, you know. Especially not friends who have the perfect black lab for whom they are looking for a loving home.

The first time the kids and I went to Vanessa’s home, Dallas completely charmed me. He rested his head on my lap and didn’t really move the entire time – even with four kids surrounding and crawling on him.

Can you see where this story is going?

The Delgados were so gracious to let us have Dallas right before Christmas, so it only made sense to make him Shawn’s Christmas present.