Mommy and 3 boys

Well, I have the post vacation blues...Last week at this time we were at Sea World!

The 5 hour drive wasn't too bad.  We had some hairy moments w/ Sam but nothing too out of the ordinary.  We stopped 1/2 way to stretch out and stuff.  Of course, we had a portable DVD player...definitely a must....I never thought I'd use it, b/c we survived w/o one when we were kids, but heck, its a must w/ a 1 y/o and 3 y/o...

We had a GREAT time! We spent lots of time on the beach, went to Sea World, The San Diego Zoo, Mini Golfing, out to eat, shopping, etc.  There were 16 of us staying in a 3-condo house.  We had a great condo, it had a little fenced patio that the boys could play on w/o us worrying.  Charlie of course brought his golf clubs and golf balls and putted around on the patio probably an hour a day, let me tell you, that boy is OBESSED w/ golf.  I guess I should look into lessons for him.  Anyway, the zoo was great, we didn't get to see the whole thing due to Sam getting fussy.  We were there from 9-12.  We did get a glimpse of the Panda but when it was our time to actually see him up close, he went away, so I didn't get any pics...I was bummed.  We saw the brown bear and a koala, which was really cool.  Sam wasn't too interested and couldn't see anything that great.  He loved the children's zoo though.  Sea World was much better, but HOT.  Both boys loved the shows! We saw the Shamu show, the sea lion show and the dolphin show.  We also went through the shark encounter, which was spectacular!  We got to touch the sea rays and starfish.    I kept the boys shaded from the sun the whole time, no sunburns!!  They were really good about wearing their hats and letting me slather sunscreen on them.   The hip carrier that I got as a gift (from Walmart) was great.  It looks like a fanny pack with a plastic shell inside the pack part.  He just sits on the plastic shell.  It just goes around my waist.  It doesn't actually secure him to me, so I still have to hold him w/ my arm, but it takes soooo much weight off.  It was great at the Sea World shows and just walking a block down to the beach...Also, thanks to mommycal the whale bag was soooooo AWESOME!! I fit almost all the beach gear in that bag! Blanket, Towels, toys, water, sunscreen, camera, and so much more in fit in that bag!  We didn't need a cart or anything, it was great.  DH carried the chairs and umbrella, C walked and I carried S and the bag, it was great!

They both slept great and took great naps everyday.  I am so glad that I brought the noise machine...we had to leave the windows open in the room since it got hot in the afternoon and there is so much noise on those narrow beach roads.  That noise machine drowned everything out, it was a God send!!!

The beach wasn't so great for Sam, his nose ran the whole time, I don't know if its the sea air or what, but his nose was a fountain the whole time, just at the beach.  Plus, he kept eating sand, he would not stop.  I could only really have him down there for an hour.  C loved it and collected a lot of shells.

We took C mini golfing (we can't do that here yet since its too hot, but i'm sure we will once Oct. rolls around)...he had a blast, I think that was the highlight of the trip for him.

SIL watched the boys two of the nights so we could go out...we went to sushi one night of course; and to Lamont St. Grill another night, both places were divine!! I also did some shopping one afternoon while DH watched the boys.  It was a great vacation and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Lately, I've been feeling really bummed out.  I think its because Sam is approaching his 1st birthday and DH was just declared "sterile" from his vasectomy.  I really hate that word "sterile"...Anyway, I can't stop thinking about last year at this time - All the discomfort I was in, how huge I was, how miserable I was and now I wish I wasn't thinking those thoughts last year because I'll never have #3.   I was soooo excited the day I went into labor and driving to the hospital, playing one of my favorite songs -  "A song for you" by The Carpentars.  I have a song for each of the boys that I played on the way to the hosp. just so I can play it back and remember that special time.  That feeling of anticipation is irreplaceable.  I just can't stop thinking about not ever being pg again.  Things are so great right now.  I really need to get past it and realize the good things - I have two healthy boys, they are on great schedules, C is completely PT'd, I'm back to my pre-preg weight before Charlie...but despite all these things, I can't get over not ever being pg again.   I know that have many things to look forward to - and I will get over this feeling, its just that this month is hard and the thoughts of "last year at this time, I was..." keep running through my head.

note to self..

some of Charlie's words that I haven't written down

fishy
elmo
chair
grandpa
granma
papa jack
abbie
ben
josie
bagel
"ju" which is yogurt
spoon
"mimi" which is ice cream
"moe" which is remote

I'm feeling OK enough to finally update my LJ.  I'm 12 weeks now and the nasuea is still lingering but I haven't thrown up in a week, so hopefully that is a good sign.  Work is going crazy and some days I just don't know if I am going to make it through, I just want to go home and sleep!!! Its worse when I'm working @ home but I've managed to stay strong and not call in sick.  I've been having a lot of crazy dreams lately, very vivid...its kinda fun!   Its like having my own TV series w/ a new episode every night!    Food is still a struggle and I feel like I'm such a bad mom because I am not eating healthy at all.  Its all I can do to eat vegetables.  Its so hard.  I've been drinking those Ensure Healthy Mom shakes that just came out.  I can stomach the chocolate, so thats good.  I pretty much live on cereal or Honey Shrimp from Pei Wei (an Asian fast food restaurant).

Charlie is doing great, he is saying over 50 words and most recently started saying star, cookie, Bill(a friend), car, sock, door, on and off.  His "r" sound is so cute.  He knows a few letters and "tries" to sing the ABC song.  He can only count to 3...He is still obsessed with Thomas the Train.   When we tell him its time for nite nite or a nap he gets this grimace face and makes a moan sound, its so funny but he goes down w/o a problem.   He loves day care and its so much fun picking him up because he runs over to me yelling, "mommy!!" Its the best feeling after a long day @ work.  When we put him to bed, we always kiss him good night and then when we leave the room he always holds up his pointer finger and says "one more" "one more"...its so hard to resist...we usually give him 3 "one mores" or we'd be there all night.  We took him to the pumpkin patch by our house this weekend. I managed to get 3 good shots...boy was it hard to get him to look and smile at the camera!

( pumpkin pictures )

Saw the doc today and I told him about my nausea...he gave me an RX for Phenegol? sp? I can't read his writing and he told me the name but I forgot...he said it should help. Has anyone heard of that? We got the h/b, its measuring at 166 bpm...another boy maybe? who knows...He told me an u/s wasn't necessary since we heard the h/b...oh well. Then they surprised me with taking my blood! I was NOT prepared for that! I do not do well with blood taking. Needless to say, I started getting dizzy, lightheaded and almost threw up. They gave me some OJ and made me lay down for 25 mintues with a wet cloth on my forehead. I would of passed out if they didn't escort me to a bed. I wish I could handle that, but I've always been a whimp. Oh well, I'm feeling fine now and my next appt. is in a month...can't wait!!

Well, we are heading East tomorrow to CT...wish us luck! I honestly do.not.know.how. I'm going to make it on that flight...I'm still soooo nasueated! I usually throw up once a day in the AM...so I'm hoping to get that over with b4 we leave. It seems like I've tried everything, B6, SeaBands, crackers, mints, pretzels, seltzer water, ginger ale. I've just decided I have to deal with it. We have all kinds of activities for Charlie including his new chalkroll and travel magna doodle, so hopefully the 6 hours will go by quick. I'm taking my computer since I will have to work some, so I'll be keeping up w/ you guys and updating along the way. Sorry, I've been a bad journal friend! I just don't have the energy to post, but I am reading along.

I am so nauseaus I can't even stand it. I'll be 7 wks. tomorrow. It hit me hard this weekend. It seems worse this pg. I haven't thrown up, but I have gagged a lot. I wish I could just go home and go to bed. I don't know if I can make it another 3 hours let alone 6 more weeks!!! I've been trying to eat small, frequent meals and I'm drinking Sprite...does anyone have any tips??? Thx!

We are going on a vacation back East to Connecticut in a few weeks, I can hardly wait. I am so worried about the flight though. Its 3 hrs. to Chicago, then we have to switch planes, then another 3 hrs. to Hartford. We are going to be gone for 10 days...we wanted to take an extra long trip this time since ILs never get to see C. But that means I have to take my computer and do a little work...it will keep me sane for when I come back, so its not a big deal. I have some new toys for C for the plane - a Magna Doodle and I also ordered a chalkroll. I also bought a new Thomas book. Of course we are bringing the portable DVD player. If anyone has any other ideas for the plane, I'd love to hear!

Caly - I don't think I can meet you...we won't have a car of our own and there is sooo much family that want to get together. (DH is one of six and there are 17 grandkids total). Plus you are so close to your due date, I don't think you want to drive 2 hrs. to Hartford. I know, its kinda bad timing for us to come back there.

I had my ultrasound today and everything looks good so far...I'm measuring right at 6 weeks. I saw the little lima bean and I saw the h/b! Its amazing that you can see something this early. The h/b was measured at 125 bpm. I am so thrilled...I'm so lucky to have gotten an u/s this early, its such a relief to see something, ya know? Have a great day everyone!

Sorry I've been a bad journal friend...work is getting busy again. We had some planning meetings this week and I felt like such a liar not telling anyone that I'm pg. I'm really close to my boss but I'm just not ready to tell him. My two close friends at work know, but thats it. He travels all the time and I won't see him again until the 13th, I'm debating on whether or not to tell at that time. I will be after my 1st appt. and I'll be 7 weeks. Part of me thinks that is still too soon. But the next chance I'll have won't be until October 3rd., when I'll be about 10 weeks...Oh I feel so decietful!!! I guess I'll just go with whatever I feel on the 13th...Others that know are my mom, step dad and DH. I don't feel bad about not telling my brother or my dad...they can wait because I know they don't know how to shut up and the entire world would know.

Charlie has been struggling w/ and ear infection for about 2 weeks. It wasn't cleared up at the 2 week follow up on Wed. They put him on some different meds. Yesterday day care called and he had to be picked up b/c he had a fever. Our day care lady got kind of snippy w/ DH. He was just asking her how his behavior was and stuff during the morning and his symptoms and she got all snippy and said, "well, he is too sick to be here". Basically, I think she thought we thought she was just wanted to get rid of him. Not true. I'm she probably also thought we just were trying to sneak a sick kid into daycare because I'm sure some parents try to do that. Also not true. We just wanted to get an idea of how he was b/c he was fine that am. Anyway, he's been running a fever ever since. It was up to 103.5 yesterday and has since gone down to 99, so thats a good sign.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Yesterday, it was 113 here in Phoenix and we were getting "cabin" fever being cooped up all day inside. So, we headed to our local mall where they have an indoor playground designed for Toddlers UNDER 42 inches. They have all kinds of things to climb on and a giant tree house w/ a slide...C just loves it. Anyway, we got there and of course its PACKED because its a weekend and its boiling outside. There were AT LEAST 15 kids over 42 inches RUNNING around like wild animals. So, I went and complained to guest services. So, security came over and rounded up all the older kids and told them they had to leave. But as soon as security left, they came back! Oh DH and I were MAD!! So, we were getting ready to leave and rounding up Charlie and all of a sudden this girl (probably around 7 or 8 years old and well over 42 inches, probably more like 50 inches) came barreling down, chasing her brother and completely mowed down Charlie. He was screaming. Then her Dad came over and said "sorry". DH was NOT HAPPY with that and they started getting into it. So the other Dad said, "I SAID I'm sorry". DH said, "is she over 42"?" and pointed to the sign...the Dad kinda shrugged and walked away. They didn't even ask if Charlie was OK. He broke blood vessles in his nose, forehead and upper lip. He settled down after we took him to the hobby shop where they have an electric train running. OMG I was sooooo PISSED!! You would think they could hire a full time security guard to man the playground and only let kids under 42" in the area...it would be much cheaper than a law suit if someone got seriously hurt! Arizona friends - this was at Paradise Valley Mall.

Do any of your malls have this type of playground? If so, do they have the under 42" rule and do they enforce it? How?

Hi everyone! I haven't been around in the last couple of days because I got a horrible bout of the stomach flu on Thursday night. I was up all night and I couldn't keep anything down. I won't go into details, but it was nasty. I thought it was m/s but that seemed impossible since I was barely 4 1/2 weeks. Turns out a stomach bug was going around at C's daycare, but he didn't get it. They sent 7 kids home on Friday. I think he didn't get it b/c he's been on antibiotics for his ear infection...thank God, he's already enough underweight! I was worried but my ob said just to keep drinking little sips of water...everything is fine now.

As far as pg symptoms, I'm feeling that always "full" feeling already. I'm barely eating anything...I had one plain waffle for breakfast and I'm stuffed!

Who I've told - you guys, DH, my Mom and two close friends...thats IT! I'm trying so hard not to tell anyone! but its soooooo hard! I'm planning to let the news out officially when I'm about 10 weeks. We'll see if I can wait that long!

Well, I might not be around much this week, I have meetings at work Tues, Wed and Thurs.

Happy Monday!

Well, we bought a new dishwasher yesterday and had our handyman come over to put it in for us.  Charlie was a big help and we even made him a house out of the box when we were done unpacking it complete with a door and windows...

( Dishwasher House Pics )

10. My ipod
9. Rain
8. My job and its flexibility
7. SUSHI
6. My home and the neigborhood I live in
5. Scrapbooking
4. Fun and supportive friends and family
3. Charlie's preference for eating tomatoes over french fries (all his good eating habits for that matter - I hope this doesn't change)
2. Charlie's excitement for trains and books
1. My supportive & always helpful husband and my beautiful son :)

I have an appt. for C to have his 18 mo pics taken next Sat. @ PP and I want the pics to kinda be Western themed after getting inspiration from Lynn's twins (thanks, Lynn!).  They didn't have the cowboy shirts in his size anymore.  The whole line was on sale...I got all three for $40 ( I saved $10 cuz the total was a little over $50), so I'm pretty happy :)

( Gymbo haul behind the cut )

So, it seems like lately I've been surrounding myself with my preggo friends and friends who have new babies...its kinda wierd, its like all of a sudden we are all getting together...so hopefully these are good signs for us :)

July 18th - friend at work's wife had a baby

Wednesday - visited a friend who has a 2 week old

Thursday (today) - had lunch with a friend who is due in 2 weeks and a friend who has a 6 month old

Saturday - going to a Diamondbacks baseball game with a friend who is 8 weeks pg...

With all these visits happening this week, I'm hoping to catch an eggie soon...but even though it sounds like I'm obsessing, I'm really trying not to. Not temping, not charting, not surfing the web about pg, no OPKs this cycle, etc. I've been diverting my attention to dieting and working out and it seems to be working - I've lost 4 lbs. in 3 weeks. Even though I'm not overweight by the standards, I feel large and I am hoping that losing a few lbs. will help me get pg! I'm also going to try to do some more scrapbooking this weekend to keep my mind off TTC things...We'll see how well that works LOL ;)

Then, come visit me!! Its so friggin hot here, I can't even explain it, its even humid!!!!!!! To me, at least. Anyway, we've pretty much been hibernating in our air conditioning and in our pool (after sunset)...I haven't been posting lately, but wanted to let ya know I'm still around and trying to keep up with you all.

I'm 6 DPO today and very anxious about this cycle, since its my 8th cycle of TTC. Its getting frustrating, but I'm staying hopeful and trying, trying not to obsess during this awful 2ww.

Charlie just turned 17 mos. last week and he is so active...he is really into climbing all over the furniture lately. He loves the pool and he is doing really well in swim lessons. He can swim to me from the instructor if I'm standing about 3 feet away...He can also grab the wall and pull himself up, its amazing how quickly he (and the others in his class) have adapted to the water.

Well, back to work! Happy Monday :)

Ugh! So, I'm working in the office today and my boss' daughter and her little friend are here for the summer helping us w/ filing and scanning. These two are 23 and they act like flipping 8th graders! They are sooo immature! Giggling and talking about sex and boys and drinking and they are supposively strict Mormons. They are totally annoying me and my boss isn't here ever, he's always travelling meeting with clients in other states so they take advantage of this. They actually moved the TV that is in our conference room (which is supposed to be for CNN and CNBC for stock market news, etc.) into the mail room where they are scanning. The microwave is on the FLOOR! Thank God I work at home 3 days a week and I don't have to deal with these bird brains on a daily basis. I just can't belive some of their conversations! They are in an office and they need to get a serious clue!

So I've been MIA lately...work is sooo crazy!! I can't even breathe I'm so busy. I'm taking tomorrow off and I really shouldn't be, but this trip was planned months ago. We are just driving to Eastern AZ to the mountains to escape this God awful heat we are having. I think it was 112 today. I hate this time of year. We are renting a cabin with my mom and step dad and another couple who are like an aunt/uncle to me. It should be in the 80s, so it will be perfect because there is hardly any humidity..like 10%.  

Here is a picture of us from the 4th. It is a totally sucky picture of me. I feel so frigging fat its disgusting. I hate how I look in pictures. I really need to lose like 20 lbs.! Plus it was nearly impossible to pose with Charlie, he would not cooperate so he looks kinda sad here...oh well!