August-how you doing? Pre-labor?

[myboysmom]

Ohhhh, what a doll!!! His eyes look like they're shaped like yours. He is precious!

[alwaysAJ]

Phew, what a holiday weekend! We had a cook-out yesterday and spent most of the day entertaining family and friends. Exhausting work, I tell ya!

Did everyone else have an enjoyable weekend?

MyBoysMom, you crack me up! My Lexipro, Ativan, and Ambien are in the same color/size bottles, and the Ambien and Lexipro both say (drug name, 10mg). The Lexipro isn't generic, but the other 2 are. And they're all little white round pills, all about the same size So I've had one heck of a time making sure I'm taking the RIGHT medication at the right time. There have been a few times I've grabbed a bottle thinking it was one thing, and thank GOD I double checked it again, because I'd grabbed the wrong one. I need to put them in different areas of the house, but then I will probably forget to take them. I have to put them where I'll be sure to see them.

I also had a phase in high school where I suffered. Made some great poetry in my self-pity stage, but nobody seemed to notice I was down. I guess people just assume all teenagers are hormonal and prone to down periods, but some are more extreme than others. I had a lot of self-destructive behaviors that should have been noticed and addressed, but I think my parents were too hung up on me needing to handle my problems on my own--they thought therapy and drugs were for loosers who should deal with it in other ways. I've told them I'm taking meds and seeing a therapist (I left out the part about needing it because of Dad), and other than my father saying it was a real shame I wasn't breastfeeding because formula wasn't as healthy, nothing else was said. My mother just asked how long I'd been not breastfeeding for.

Anyway, thanks for the compliment about Jacob . I think he's a handsome little guy (well, he's smaller than the 2 year old!). Looks just like his daddy, but with my eyes. All of my kids look like their father but all of them have my eyes and super long eyelashes, and full lips. Thank God they have beautiful dark blonde hair and tan skin! Red hair can be such a curse as a child...

[brittneeskidmore]

He IS a beautiful baby. =) I can hardly wait.

My mom has (what I call) depressive tendencies. She will go on meds for awhile, be fine without them for awhile, then need them again. Out of my whole life, I mostly remember her being "pissy". It's kind of sad, but now that I'm grown, I realize that she really had a lot to deal with, so I am much more understanding. I really don't think it's something she can control, so I just try to inquire as to whether or not she's on medicine right now. Usually if I have to ask, she's not and says she'll go see the doctor. She's a strong woman who has been through a whole lot in her life, so I can't blame her at all. I'm worried, though, that I will end up having the same tendencies. I discussed it with my doctor already, but hopefully it won't come up.

As far as taking the wrong pills -- I once took two muscle relaxers thinking they were tylenol when I was about 12. They were my dad's and I just didn't look at the bottle. It was the WEIRDEST feeling. So--- I think EVERYONE has had their screw up with medicine! =)

I sure hope Lou is doing all right. She's probably just relishing in the new addition.

So I'm 22 weeks now, and seem to be growing a bit. I've been waking up in the night a LOT! Right now I can go back to sleep fairly easily, but I sure don't want to think about what's to come when I'm uncomfortable!!

[myboysmom]

Brittnee, you've passed the 1/2 way point, hooray! Sleep as much as you can, because it doesn't get any better. Are you still comfortable while you are sleeping? You're probably not too big to sleep yet.
I'm sorry about your mom; I can't imagine what that's like for you. It's bad enough that my dad has problems, but my mom is one of my best friends, it would be so hard if she had depression problems.
How are things with your husband? Is he pretty excited? I also wondered if he was home or on leave somewhere. I found out the other day from my mom that my brother is going to Kuwait next fall. He's in the Reserves and was overseas for a year in 2003.
I wish Lou would sign in, too. She was in the process of moving, also, so she's had her hands full. Looks like we'll be moving within a month or two, whenever my hubby decides he's ready to finish our hardwood floors.

[alwaysAJ]

ARG! (That is a growl of frustration for those of you unsure of what sound effect I'm making)

I totally don't mean to change the subject here, but I needed to vent--and nobody here would have the faintest clue who I'm talking about. So...I'm at my local Moms Club meeting this morning, and we had a new mom who is interested in joining. She's so very nice, and aside from a thick indian accent, we had a great conversation (I have a difficult time understanding thick accents of any type, but that is my fault, not theirs). Anyway, she's super nice and we get to talking about the area and how she just moved from an apartment and she and her husband got their first house, she has 2 kids... I am not sure, but I don't think I made any mention of my children as I talked to her. I had Jacob with me, Kodi was in the playroom with the other kids, and my older 2 were in school. We sit down as more moms join the room, her sitting next to me. Jacob's car seat was sitting in a stroller-thing so I could lie him down next to me and keep him close in case he needed attention. I'd been feeding him before she entered the room, but had stopped briefly because he seemed to be finished--however, as babies often do, he decided he wanted to eat again. From a bottle. She raised an eyebrow and inquires if I'm not breastfeeding. First strike. I kindly inform her that I do breastfeed on occassion (not an entire lie, I'm weaning) but I'd had a difficult time getting enough milk flow to feed him because of his appetite. I didn't think it was any of her business that I am stopping due to medication. Anyway, so she proceeds to tell me how to get my milk to come in adaquatly. I listen as she goes on, and then I drop the fact that he's my fourth child, and I enjoy the freedom that bottle feeding can give me to play with my other kids. Did I also mention at one point I'd started to stretch my back out and she made a comment about needing to have good posture while I feed him. I made a wisecrack about seeing my chiropractor, but kept it light.

So, the meeting starts and I eventually get Jacob to finish eating and I'm attempting to burp him, which can sometimes drag on for half an hour or more. I keep tapping him to no avail, so I set him down, and she cranes around to see if he's sleeping. He is not, and she keeps fussing that he isn't sleeping. Strike two. I pick him back up and tap his back some more thinking he may have gas. I set him back down, but not before I notice he has beads of sweat on his forehead. The room is unbearably hot with no air flow and all of us moms in there. I only had him in a t-shirt and socks with a blanket to keep him warm (if needed). But now I realize he's way too hot in just the shirt and socks, so after I lay him down I remove his socks to help cool him down. He immediately starts to fuss--not because I removed the socks, but because I'm bothering him as he's trying to sleep. She has again craned around to watch this entire process, and keeps making comments about what I should or shouldn't do, and that he's fussing because he wants the socks back on. I mutter that he's hot, but I guess she didn't hear me because she repeats it when he continues to fuss and I'm trying to give him his pacifier. I look at her and say he's hot and sweaty, he doesn't need the socks. I'm smiling, so I hope it doesn't offend her. I have a suspicion I showed a little too much teeth though, because she didn't say anything else. Either way, strike three.

I'm not a freakin idiot, I think I know after having 4 kids, how to read my child regarding their needs. And I know she was only trying to be nice and helpful, but it really started to grate on my nerves after several well-intended comments.

Anyway, I just had to get that off my chest in a confession-like manner. Now I can get over it and move on with my life . And forgive her for her unknown transgression of stepping on my toes. I can be SO sensitive, and I know this, and I'm trying to cope with it without pushing down the other adults in this world who annoy me. And I'm also trying to get over my own narcisistic tendancy to think most other people are all idiots (not you ladies, I don't think that!)... But I swear, we have some real winners in this town. My father says its because its a lot of inbreeding, big fish in little pond syndrome. He's probably correct, there's a lot of old-family and old-money here, and money likes to marry money. They're probably all related in some fashion or another if you go back far enough. Then you bring in the tourists, and driving can get pretty darn interesting. This place is crawling with people who have no idea what the speed limits are, or where they're going, and oh! look, its a freakin lake, kids! let's slow down 20 miles under the posted speed limit so we can all ooh and aah over the lake while the townies stuck behind us hit their brakes and their steering wheels in frustration. Then we'll turn our turn signal on and brake at 18 different streets until we find the street we're supposed to turn on. Even better, we'll actually stop and begin to turn, and then quickly pull back in front of everyone once we realize we're taking the wrong turn.

I'm serious. That's what I get for living in a tourist trap on a beautiful lake with beaches galore. Tourists and construction in the warm weather, snow and ice in the winter. Yay.

I'm so ranting, sorry!

[alwaysAJ]

Oh. And Fed Ex missed their drop-off guaranteed time of 10am with my husband's passport and visa for China, so he missed both flights he was trying to make. There aren't anymore until tomorrow, and that means he missed his Sunday 8:30am meeting in Guang Jo. Instead, he's flying out tomorrow to Shaing Hai (I'm totally spelling how it sounds, sorry!) because he has a meeting on Monday and then Tuesday he flies back, getting in on Wednesday sometime. He was so mad about the Fed Ex deal, his stuff didn't show up until after 1pm. He had it overnight expressed from the embassy, it should have been at the agent's office between 8 and 10am. Fed Ex couldn't locate their driver, and he wouldn't return their pages. I was annoyed because this totally interferes with my afternoon/evening plans. I was really looking forward to popping an anti-anxiety pill and taking all 4 kids grocery shopping/school shopping.

Now, since he isn't leaving till tomorrow, he has volunteered to go with us. Which means he's trying for damage control because he knows I have his credit card and money in my checking account. He knows I'm not as likely to impulse buy with him standing over my shoulder. I stupidly told him I was intending to shop after I got my kids from school but before he got off work, so now he's leaving early so he can go with me to pick my kids up from school. I really need to be a little smarter about these things, huh? :P

[myboysmom]

LOL, But everyone else is an idiot, aren't they? At least that's what I've always thought. I'm proud of you for being nice to her and not ripping her head off and spitting down her neck, considering the stress you've been under lately.
Too bad about the shopping spree. . . . Next time, huh? I can't imagine what your household was like while waiting for Dennis' stuff!? How aggravating.
I actually had a pretty good weekend even though Dane (2yo) is on the warpath. Are all toddlers bipolar? j/k Really though, he can be the sweetest angel ever and in the next 2 minutes he is throwing the biggest tantrum you ever saw. I keep telling myself I only have 2 1/2 months till he's 3 and then it's done. After all, it's only the "terrible two's", right?
We're getting a lot closer on our farmhouse. As soon as TJ decides to take a week off to redo the hardwood floors, we can move in. I only have to paint the boys' two bedrooms. My kitchen is half done as far as cabinets installed. It's so exciting watching it all change.
Well, back to this house. Dishes, laundry and toys, Oh my!

[brittneeskidmore]

I sometimes wonder where people get their desires to tell us what to do with our own lives. You know I can't relate with children yet, but I sure can relate in other areas. People think that just because they know something, that means there's no POSSIBLE way that you know it, too. Or they think they know the only RIGHT way to do something or act. This isn't Math...there can be more than one right answer. =)

Well, while we're in the venting mood...
I know y'all aren't super familiar with the military, but you have some sort of background with it, so...
We moved here (mississippi) in january b/c my husband (was forced to) re-trained into Air Traffic Control from being a Crew Chief (glorified Aircraft Mechanic). Well, by the time March got here he was having such terrible dreams about planes crashing and him killing people that he hardly got any sleep and it effected his work. Well, he had to see a psychologist and they medically disqualified him from being an Air Traffic Controller anymore. This was in March.
Since then, we've been waiting to find out what they (the Air Force) intend to do with him now. The obvious solution is to just let him go back to doing his old job (that he had been doing for 7 years before they decided he had been stationed there too long) that he was good at (and loved). Here we are a quarter of the way into September and they STILL haven't finished "working on it" at the Air Force Personnel Center ("they" who make the decision).
Normally I'm quite patient with the *stupid* Air Force way, but I'm FED UP with it now. Not only did they force him to change his whole career, but they also have to make him wait for a year when the new job didn't work out? It's RIDICULOUS.
Not to mention, we have to sell our home, move into a temporary home, and then move to a new base. AND let's not forget that I'm 5.75 months pregnant! Knowing them, they will make us move two weeks before my freaking due date.
I keep thinking that THIS IS THE WEEK we'll find out when/where we're moving. It's NEVER the week!

[lou]

so glad to be back home!!!! sorry it took so long to get on here. I've been healing and trying to get some sleep, then our computer went crazy. hope everyone is doing well. I haven't the time at the moment to catch up on the posts here.
Turns out all the cramping I was having were contractions. so technically I went into labor the 18th, was admitted into the hospital the 25th, after being sent home once with contractions every 7-10 minutes (as they had been since the evening before, I got no sleep) and 3 centimeters dialated at 6 in the evening. I told my fiancee it was too soon, of course he didn't listen to me though. I don't think he liked not being in control and having to watch me in pain and not be able to do anything for me. Of course as soon as I left they started coming 3-4 minutes apart and were really strong. I was determined not to be sent home again though so my sister and I went out to dinner and then to barnes and noble and walked for awhile and
i got lucien a "I love my mommy" book, he freakin better after this birth. After that we went into the hospital around 10:30pm where I continued contracting. I got drugs via IV at like 4 am. About 11am I was contracting so hard that the drugs were no help at all, though they were fun I felt completely wasted drunk, and I had been dialated at 5 cm for 12 hours with no progression! so I decided to go with the epideral, not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. then shortly after 1 pm all hell broke loose. I rolled over on to my side (with help of course, I was so numb) and Lucien's heart rate dropped to like 60 bpm. apparently the cord was wrapped around his body and his shoulder so that when I rolled over he laid on it and cut the circulation off. They had already broke my water so there was nothing there to cushion him. like 12 doctors and nurses rushed in the room, one had her hand inside me trying to get him off the cord. I was put on oxygen, at that point I was so scared I was hyperventilating. I don't think I've ever been that scared in all my life. I had to have an emergency c-section and I don't care what they say it's painful. they said I shouldn't feel any pain only pressure. well sorry to burst their bubble but I felt like I was being ripped apart. I'm so happy they put me to sleep afterwards, but tehn I woke up with the worst pain I've ever experienced. I can't beleive women actually volunteer for that procedure. it's going on two weeks and I'm still sore. Anyway Lucien was born at 1:39 pm, the 26th (he was born on his due date!), hw weighed 9lbs 5 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. He's a very good baby and just absolutely perfect, except he refuses to sleep in his own bed. Breastfeeding is going well but my god do my nipples hurt. speaking of the devil, got to go, time to feed again. hope all's well!

[myboysmom]

Yay lou!!!!!!!! He was a big guy! I'm so sorry that you had to go through such a rough time to get him here. On the plus side it's wonderful that he's so good for you. What do his brothers think of him?

Brittnee that sucks! Since your husband's not an ATC, what has he been doing since March??