diaper wipe warmer update

of course, i buckled and purchased a wipe warmer for the bum of my baby girl when i let the boys before her suffer with cold wipes.

i did so even though i had heard and read many people complain that the warmer dries out the wipes.

i'm happy to report that after over 2 weeks of use, my warmer is doing a great job at keeping the wipes moist.

i think the makers of these warmers may have heeded to the complaints of consumers and fixed the design flaw that caused the warmers to dry out wipes.

i notice condensation remains in the wipe warmer and it never gets too heated to dry out the wipes...well that is the case with the Munchkin brand warmer i purchased.

belated weightloss wednesday

last week: 165lbs
this week: 164.5lbs.

only a 1/2 lb loss, but I will chock that up to gaining muscle. gonna take and post a pic tomorrow and do my measurements which should be more accurate.

i am not discouraged especially since this week I ate terribly and didn't follow my rules, so it's what I should expect.

And I must always remember the universal rule NINE MONTHS UP...NINE MONTHS DOWN

and stop trying to rush it!

old fashioned colic treatment

they tell moms who breastfeed that there is no need to supplement a newborn or infant with water because they get all the water they need in the milk.

my mother begs to differ. she and I fought because for my first kid, I only listened to the docs and what i read in books. she and i butt heads on traditional, holistic, natural and native remedies and home cures based on how she raised her four children and what was in vogue 20-30 years ago. i thought i knew it all and was convinced these new and tested ways of raising a child trumped those old fashioned views from her era.

i was stubborn. i didn't listen. however, by the time i was on child two, of course, as with most once neurotic, obsessive and psycho first time moms i relaxed a bit. against the suggestions of the books and doctors, i gave my second water and other of mom's "old fashioned" remedies which surprise surprise worked! the second kid was a mellow baby who was not fussy and rarely cried or exhibited signs of colic.

it's with that lesson that i chose to treat GGs recent bout of late night colic like crying with some water treatment.

first, i cleaned her tongue of that film of milk that has been accumulating for the past 4 weeks. i brushed it off with the infant toothbrush thing that fits over your finger. then, i sterilized the avent infant bottle and fed her an ounce of warm spring water. she drank the water and even breathed a sigh of relief as she drank. soon after, i massaged her belly, walked with her and she pooped. i think a lot of her discomfort had to do with an upset tummy and the water may have been a much needed break and relief from milk.

after her diaper change, she slept for 4 hours straight and didn't wake up until later. so far so good...:D

cold and flu challenge

well, Thank GOD I took my flu shot because I was able to pass down my immunity from the shot onto Baby GG! That's what our pediatrician told us as we are challenged to keep her healthy during this nasty cold and flu season.

Boy will she need all the protection she can get. Her oldest brother just got diagnosed with the flu!

Her second eldest brother is a snotty nose kid who always has some sort of infection or cold at any given moment 24 hours/365 days of the year.

the challenge was to keep the flu kid upstairs and AWAY from the baby.

Too late! We just noticed she has a runny nose and has breathing that sounds like her upper chest is a bit congested. I'm putting on the air purifier and plugging in the vick's vapor plug tonight, then suctioning her nose and all the mucous that seems to be building up with the suction bulb we got from the hospital. so far, this is working a bit and she sounds better.

*sigh* ....thus is the life of a Winter baby. WE are off to the doctors tomorrow, but I think I will combine that trip with a trip to the Apple Store for them to diagnose my Video Ipod which has been on the brink for a couple of months now.

I plan to return to the gym soon and will need my Ipod to get me thru a treadmill run!

Halle Berry is Due in March

I thought she was due earlier. She's getting that, oh boy, I'm looking forward to having this baby SOON look, no? HAHAHA!

PHOTO: celebrity-babies.com

Friday Follies: SHE SMILED!!!

she, (GG aka future Mischiefmaker #3 aka youngest, only girl already spoiled rotten baby...)

she did it today!!!! Friday, January 25th 2008!

first on purpose smile. I smiled TWICE at her just now after she nursed and

SHE SMILED BACK!

both times!

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

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in other Mschiefmakers/Bellyitch news....TODAY, we will take our first venture out to an event with THREE CHILDREN! aaaack!

Pray for me! Especially, since it is COLD like frick out there!

My Exercise DVD/VHS Library

Since I do NOT have a nanny or any one to watch the baby so I can go to the gym, I am relying on my very extensive exercise DVD and VHS collection to get me thru the next few months. Here is my review of each:

First: THE PILATES programs Pilates Conditioning for Weight Loss: This is my absolute favorite because it has 3 women showing 3 diff't levels of the moves and right now I'm on level one 3 week postpartum. I like the pace of the work out and I honestly think I lose weight and get tighter everytime I do this workout

Cardio Pilates: I thought this one would be more high intense, but it essentially repeats the same sequence of moves and doesn't really makes you break a sweat. There are some basic mat pilates maneuvers too

Balance Ball for Weight Loss: I like this one too again with Suzanne Deason, which is a little more difficult so I have to work up to doing this one. Since I had diastasis with this pregnancy (as with my previous two) my abdominal muscles are still quite weak and need to work up to it.

Balance Ball Fitness, Beginner's Workout: This introductory DVD came with the balance ball equipment and shows 20 minute intros of the ab, lower and upper body work outs intended to entice you to purchase the entire DVD from each. It's a good quickie work out. After reviewing this DVD, I wanted to order

Crunch Fitness, Pick your Spot Pilates: This is my absolute FAVORITE pilates for lower body Tape because it offers 10 minutes of but, 10 minutes for the legs and 10 minutes for the abs and I always feel tighter when I'm done. And if you're pressed for time, you can just do 1 or 2 segments. Giam's Lower Body Toning Ring: I got this as a Christmas present in 2005 and it came with the ring. It's a great , easy to follow exercise for the lower body and wonderful to do for breaking up the monotony and switching up a bit.Denise Austin Balance Ball: I really have the balance ball version of this video which I don't recall ever doing actually, but plan to soon

Second: The YOGA programsYoga Booty Ballet: I don't recall how many things I ordered while wide awake and nursing my second boy when he was a new born 2 1/2 years ago AND watching infomercials. This was one of them. It came with 3 DVDs, an exercise and diet program. It was a very fun work out b/c there were unique moves that combined ballet with yoga and pilates. I think I lost a few inches doing this work out series.

Baby & Mom Yoga: The best thing about this video 1) the cover; and 2) had maneuvers you could do with the baby. The maneuvers were a bit basic and the instructor , who is dressed like a swami and less like a yogi, was a bit scary. It's a good opportunity to work out when baby is awake and to involve the baby in it.


Third: THE CALISTHENICS and CARDIO programs Crunch Fitness: TAE BOXING: When the Tae Bo trend was all the rage 10 years ago or so,I think Crunch wanted in on the action and they paid the creator of Tae Bo, Billy Blanks, money to teach a class. And then they videotaped it and sold it. It seemed unorganized and haphazard. Not really good, but it's a decent work out and quasi intense. It runs 30 minutes so it's a okay-ish quick cardio work out.

Tae Bo Instructional: This is the real thing which I think I picked up in a yard sale and have yet to use, but I'm looking forward to it.

Billy Blanks, Billy's Bootcamp: This DVD series included Abs, Basic Training, Ultimate Bootcamp, Cardio Bootcamp. This is VERY high intensity workout that comes with bands and I think I picked this up while watching some late night infomercial on television. It was WONDERFULLY helpful in helping me shedding my baby weight.

Crunch: 10 Minute Abs: This is a great quick ab work out.

The original Buns of Steel: I got the abs of steel version video in law school when my metabolism started slowing down and I started getting heavier as is usual with most people. After doing this tape 3x a week, I got my rock hard 4-pack (2pack short of a 6 pack) back. This version is very 80s complete with Tami Lee Webb in an 80s style leotard, leg warmers and tights. However, it's a great BASIC work out and really consists of doing squats and lunges. There is a mat work out portion that is essentially leg lifts. It is great for getting strong legs and a great butt.

Buns of Steel Target Toning Workout: This is an updated version from after 2000 I think, which is great because it features very fun moves. It is intense, but high intensity and a great cardio work out.

Weightloss Wednesday: Week 2

I can't find the photo i took when i started this weightloss challenge last week and I think I might have accidentally deleted it from my camera. Oh well. I think I'll start with this photo from this week. I have yet to do my measurements, but ...

Pre-pregnancy weight: 140lbs
Weight on delivery day: 189lbs
Total weight gain: 49lbs

Weight Loss Challenge
Week 1 weight: 170lbs
Week 2 Weight: 165 lbs

1 week Total loss: 5lbs --- YAY ME!!

Total pregnancy loss: 24lbs

short term goal: 140lbs
long term goal: 125lbs

gender variations

i'm guilty.

of handling my baby girl, more gently and handling her with kid gloves. my hubby pointed it out to me. i am in denial. but i think i must face the music. *sigh*

i actually am thinking of getting a wipe warmer so i don't have to assualt her with a cold wipe everytime i have to change her diaper. the boys could toughen it out. they were boys after all. rough and tumble.

i vow and promise to be rougher later, so she grows with the same fearless abandon that her brothers have. i want her to be delicate and pretty and dainty....

but at the same time, I don't want her to be a push over or to be overly sensitive

is it too early to think of these things? maybe, but plenty doctors and pediatricians and theorists who study children say that we start socializing them for traditional gender roles from birth!

i am living proof that this is true. *sigh* i still am thinking of the wipe warmers. i can't help myself.

Baby GG's 3rd Week: A pictorial

I had a very restful week, family...check out my week in pictures...

chilling in my baby swing on Sunday...

...3 minutes later...okay now.... woman take me out of this THING!!!

Monday this week, all bundled up and ready to go to the pediatrician's office

Tuesday...check out my pouty lips...Shante Sashay...pose..click...haha!...i crack me up...
...hey yall...check out my cute new hairbow clipss thing-a-ma-bobs....Mom got these on Wednesday
under the boobie...my favorite place to be...we wore the blue bows on Thursday

taking my bath...okay...do we have to be half way nekked on the blog, mom???
doing what i do best...sleep...(smile)...TGIFriday

activities for winter infants

having a winter baby means that in the 17 days this little child has been on earth, she has only smelled the outdoors 3 times (1 when leaving the hospital and 2x for outings to the pediatrician's office)

i recall that my spring and summer babies were out and about, being strolled about the neighborhood, accompanying me on on errands, going to library story time from a few days old (okay maybe older, but you get the point).

so far, baby GG's awake hours are spent

• in the swing (for 3 minute intervals as she can't take the over stimulation of being rocked and having to stare at scary toys going around the mobile AND listen to the music at the same time. Simulation Overload. She's crying less than 5 minutes after being put in that thing)
• walking around the house looking at photos of her brothers and the family hanging on the walls
• chilling in the baby sling while i do chores like the dishes or respond to email or read blogs
• hanging over my shoulders, just chilling
  

Weightloss Wednesday: Before and After

This is me at my shower topping the charts this past December 2007 and this is where I'd like to get back to...I think I'm between 130 and 135lbs here...this was taken in January 2007

Weight Loss Wednesday

Now that I have been given the official green light by my doctor to start exercising again, I figure I better get cracking at whittling my way back down to my pre-pregnancy weight and beyond.

And what a great time of the year to be doing this as the entire country is on the back in shape kick especially with it being a new year. All the morning shows and marketing in stores like Target are tailored to Getting into shape so there are awesome deals, promotions and information floating around.

AND what better way to motivate myself than to chronicle my success and failures. I'm thinking rather than start an entirely new blog, I'll just do it here on Wednesdays and share this space with other neo-natal posts about my life with a baby girl and her milestones.

So here is what we're looking at....THE PLAN

Weight this morning: 170lbs YIKES! (i've lost 18 lbs since giving birth, but that is baby related loss like the baby herself, blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, fluids from IV etc.)

Pre-pregnancy weight: 140 lbs (would love to get there by June)

Weight loss goal: 125 lbs (would love to get there by Baby's birthday 12/31)

For a 5 foot 3 inch woman, 170lb is darn near obese, but I have very dense bones (*snicker*) and I have thick muscle tone (this is true) so thankfully, I don't look like a big roly poly mass walking around on swollen ankles. Hey as a matter of fact, I should post a before picture. Let me go take one. I think I'll post all my progress pics wearing the same thing to properly track the loss. Sometimes when the scale shows a minor loss, a photo and loose clothing can help keep a person on track and not get discouraged...

The Diet Plan

Breakfast: 1/2 Grapefruit and cup of Cream of wheat or oatmeal...OR
cup of whole grain cold cereal and yogurt...OR
breakfast shake

Lunch: small salad and low fat/low sodium soup like Lentils, pea, minestrone ...OR
tuna salad sandwhich on wheat bread (with low fat mayo)...OR
Lunch meal replacement shake ...OR

Dinner: broiled fish (salmon, tuna, tilapia) and steamed veggies...OR
large salad and soup....OR
chili....OR
baked brown rice with broiled fish

Desserts/Snacks: 100 calorie snack packs, fruit cocktail, apples, bears, grapes, low cal popsicles

Appetite suppressants: grapefruit chunks. cinnamon gum. brushing teeth after meals. drink glass of ice water before and after each meal to create illusion of being full in my belly.

Total calories for day: 1500-1700. Must account for the fact that breastfeeding saps 500 calories a day, so I may add a few snacks. Yesterday, I felt so light headed

NO MEALS OR SNACKS AFTER 8PM....ONLY GINGER TEA!

The Exercise Plan

Weeks 1-2: Walk on treadmill for one hour. Do Pilates or Post Natal DVD for one hour
Weeks 2-4: Walk/Jog on treadmill of one hour. Pilates and Calisthentics work out DVD for an hour
Weeks 4-6: Jogging for one hour. Advanced Pilates and Calisthentics work out DVDs
Weeks 6 + : Run for one hour. Weight training in Gym for one hour.
Begin Ballet, Boxing, Hip Hop and other classes on alternate days to mix it up and avoid plateau. If can afford it, hire a personal trainer for once a week sessions.

BEGIN TRAINING FOR OCTOBER 1/2 MARATHON BY WEEK 8

Celebrity Baby Boomlet

Christina Aguilera gave birth to a son, 6 lbs. 2 oz. and 20.5 inches, Max Liron Bratman, in Los Angeles on Saturday, a day after Nicole Ritchie gave birth in the same hospital. He is the first-born for Aguilera, 27, and music executive Jordan Bratman, 30, who were married two years ago. Yesterday, Courtney Thorne-Smith, 40, of Melrose Place and Ally McBeal gave birth to a baby boy. The baby who started the current boomlet was born Thursday to comedian David Alan Grier, a cast member of In Living Color.

And Halle Berry is scheduled to give birth this week or next.

*belch*

where this itty bitty baby get these big GROWN MAN belching from, Lord only knows!

ROFL!!!

in other baby GG news... she had her 2 week pediatrician appointment today. she's gained an entire 1 lb (16 ounces) in ONE WEEK!!!

she's in the 25% for height. *shriveled brow*. The hubby says she's got my family's short genes, but she's at 50% for weight. the boys were both always in the 90+% for height and weight.

those are some tall heavy boys, right there!

but i figure TODAY, was supposed to be my scheduled c-section date, so for 39 weeks, she's right on track! lol!

sleeping beauty

doing what she does best. she's got the tossed bed-hair going on too. ha! lookey how her cheeks are filling out!!! cute!!!

i think i'm going to invest in some little hair bows for outings so she isn't confused for a boy as she was by our waiter at the Thai restaurant we ate at last week Monday after her doctor's visit.

I mean the head to toe pink dressings didn't give him a clue she was a girl? funny!

Nicole Ritchie had her baby

Rocker Joel Madden, 28, and reality star Nicole Richie, 26, are first-time parents after welcoming daughter Harlow Winter Kate. She weighed in at 6 lbs, 7 oz and was born this January 11 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

the best baby sling EVER

Back in 2002, a co-worker who had done a lot of research on baby slings gifted me an Over-the-Shoulder-Baby Holder to welcome my first baby.

It is ABSOLUTELY the best!! So far, it's lasting through three kids and Baby GG LOVES IT!

First, the padding in the shoulders offer extra support for the back. It is super easy to wear, once you figure it out. (it can be a bit complicated to figure out how to wear it in the beginning)

Second, I find it is awfully convenient for trips to the market, the mall or for running in quick errands. No need to haul out a car seat and stroller and set up the baby. NO need to transfer all of the baby items out of your bag and schuck them underneath the stroller basket. Simply, pick up baby from her car seat and nestle her snuggly in the carrier.

Third, the shape of the holder supports the baby's natural spine, unlike carriers like the Baby Bjorn which can't be used on newborns who cannot hold their heads up (though I've seen many of offending and ignorant parents put their babies in this thing against manufacturer suggestions and it sure doesn't look healthy or right for their tiny babies)

Fourth, I can multitask with it. I've actaully nursed a baby inconspiciously while shopping! While wearing a nursing top, I can have the baby nurse and throw a blanket on top to shield

Fifth, it's versatile you can have he baby lay in it or sit up in it facing you or outwards towards the world getting stimulated.

Cons: with the padding, the entire apparatus can be hot during the summer months.
if you are a fashionista, you may have a problem with the size of the sling and you may come off looking like a nature loving granola mom, not that there's anything wrong with the granola mom look. LOL!
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from the company's website
This sling is rated the top baby carrier by hundreds of baby experts: Lactation consultants, childbirth educators and pediatricians recommend it as a means of encouraging the parent-infant bonding that develops a lifelong sense of security. Physical therapists and chiropractors endorse it for its comfort and weight distribution, and for its benefits for your babies posture. Baby authors recommend it for its ease of use; it takes only seconds to put on and put the baby in. The baby can be carried in any natural position: nursing hold, cradle hold, football hold, burping hold, and hip straddle without any re-adjusting. Baby can breastfeed discreetly. Fits both small mom and large dad, and, will fit any baby from newborn to 3 year old. Relaxes baby to sleep, and can be taken off without waking baby.

Nursing Mom's Wardrobe

i discovered only recently that all of my Nursing tops from when I had the boys are missing! I wonder if i accidentally gave them away during my frantic clean housing. hmmm....

anyway, i've managed to put together a small mom Layette (all the stuff on this page) from stuff I picked up from MimiMaternity and ordered online from Mother hood maternity.com. I just have to pick up a cover-all to hide my boobies when in public and I'm good!


MY NURSING LAYETTE

1. 3 Nursing bras (one in black, tan and white)
2. one Nursing Sleeping bra
3. a Nursing Cami that can be worn underneath sweaters
4. a Grey nursing sweatshirt
5. a polo shirt combo shirt
6. 6. a nice shirt I can wear to church, or more dressy outings

I hit the jackpot recently and found a storage bin full of zipper sweatshirts, yoga pants and sweatpants!!!

I think I'm good for the nursing season!

I nursed my first son for 13 months and second for 16 months and who knows how long I'll go this round. *shrug* I may leave it up to baby GG to give me clues,

GG's first bath

..went off without a hitch.

after her umbilical cord stump fell off yesterday i was so excited to give her her first bath.

first, i cleaned her face with a warm wash cloth, wiped the guck in her eyes with a slightly soaked cotton ball, and then swabbed behind ears and in the folds and crevices in her chubby neck where milk and drool sometimes deposits with a cotton swab dipped in Burt's bees apricot oil
she was cool for most of this.

next, i wrapped her in her towel and put some apricot oil on her hair and added some Burt's Bees shampoo and scrubbed the little cradle cap on her hair. she wasn't feeling this much. she did LOVE the warm water i poured over her head to rinse out the shampoo. i did this over the sink, keeping her in the football hold so the towel didn' get wet

then, i put her in the spongy bath tub foam on top of the regular tub and scrubbed her down with a wash cloth. she screamed bloody murder at first, but then when I started to rinse her with the warm water underneath her, she calmed down. I think she liked the water.

finally, i wrapped her in her cute pink little terry cloth kimono robe and gave her an infant massage which she ABSOLUTELY LOVED so much that she purred like a cat! cute!

she slept like a baby (oh she is a baby) for i think 4 hours after that! Sweet Sweet Water, eh? Oh to be clean

Post partum Layette for Winter Babies

From experience, here is whatwe are dressing baby GG in to get us through this period of her lounging at home, being changed often, enertaining visitors and not really fitting in most of her 0 to 3month clothes and those other cutesy clothes for going out.

Because she's a winter baby, we don' anticipate taking her out of the house too much to expose her to all those germs and the harsh winter weather. She's still building her immunity.

POST PARTUM BABY LAYETTE (for the winter baby):

6-8 sleep and play sleepers (the ones with covered feet so you don't need socks which can restrict the baby's circulation at the ankles)

3-4 receiving blanket for swaddling baby or 1 or 2 recently invented swaddling fleeces made to take the guess work out of the art of properly swaddling a baby (lucky for us, after merely a week, GG no longer needs to be swaddled to be comfortable. i recall when her eldest brother was an infant, he would go ballistic unless he was wrapped in a swaddled blankie, nice and tight for 2 months!!)

4-5 baby kimonos to be worn under the sleepers (we got 2-3 from the hospital. these tiny undergarments are the absolute best for keeping tiny newbies warm. you only need a kimono and a diaper under the swaddle bc anything more would maybe too much and overheat the baby.)

1-2 pairs of anti scratch mittens (to stop the baby from accidentally scratching her face, as GG has already done once. the kimonos come with a fold out that allows you to cover up babie's hands and thus no need to put on a separate mitt)

My Post partum Belly Picture

1 week and a half after delivering....

One of the BEST BEST things about post partum recovery is it is the only time I would lose 17 lbs in ONE WEEK! Well...of those pounds, nearly 7lbs was baby and the rest is amniotic fluid, other fluids I've been retaining, placenta, etc. And I'm still losing water weight as I'm quite still bloated from the procedure.

Next Monday, I hope to start the baby belly meltdown. In the meantime, check out TMI (too much informaion) picture #2 of the week! This one isn't as bad as the swollen feet shocker! Ha!

the best colic and gas remedy

this stuff works wonders. it stops GG's hiccups as soon as they start. i dare say this old natural medicine, gripe water, which my mom gave me and her mom gave her is way better than the more chemical based Mylicon drops sold for the same purpose. The version of gripe water I got from the organic market is sold by Baby's Bliss and doesn't have alcohol as the one my mom used to give me.

i am pretty sure the alcohol in that old remedy had a lil something to do with the power that remedy had to soothe the tiny tummy or at least knock out baby for an hour or too! LOL.

GG' been having rather painful gas pangs lately and i fear she may be a bit constipated. i'm hoping it will get better.

my plans are to massage her belly tonight when she wakes for her 3 AM liming session.

our twilight hang out sessions usually involves me holding her, sitting Indian-style on the bed.... the two of us looking at each other blankly oh and me praying i don't allow her to roll off my lap.

last night, while she lay happy and wide awake on my lap, i watched 80s r&b videos playing on VH1 Soul while combing through a small bin of old infant toys looking for ones that may be suitable for an almost 2 week old infant.

i won't disgust the blog...

by posting a photo of my swollen feet and hands....just yet, but as soon as this camera battery recharges...ha! after surgery the water pools to the extremeties and when i walk, I can hear the water swishing around.

you're not gonna believe this!

UPDATED WITH PICS: scroll down or close your eyes... i don' want to blind anyone with the upcoming super gross image now...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!

so not sexy. :( i look like i have a minor case of elephantiasis. yuk!

so.... i will be spending my entire day tomorrow doing what my doctor ordered: laying down with my feet elevated above my heart. And drinking plenty plenty water!

post-natal medicine detox

it's been less than a week and i'm ready to start weaning myself from high potent pain medicine that was prescribed to me to help me deal with recovery from the c-section surgery from Monday. i think it is affecting the baby b/c she is sleeping like 22-23 hours out of the day. She is like the baby Koala who i learned rarely have those same sleeping patterns.

and me too. i cannot keep my eyes open to save my life. unfortunately, i have to do some work tonight for some clients but can't seem to focus, let alone keep alert for longer than 10 seconds. it doesn't help that i do NOT want to do this work AT ALL!

i should be bonding with baby, catching up on sleep, and wrapping up my projects from pre-labor.

something about computer screens (including my Palm Treo screen) also hypnotize me and like a narcoleptic, I doze off easy, but then maybe, that is again the effect of the medicine taking its toll on my body.

i am stubborn and i want to stay awake and alert, but i should be resting, but i resist.

it doesn't help that the 10-12 times a day I nurse the baby is draining 500 energy calories out of me that I don't really have. I am STARVING all the time, but cannot eat more than a small portion of food before getting full.

i have been avoiding weighing myself b/c the doctor told me to not even think about exercising or changing my diet to begin the process of getting back to my pre-preggers size for TWO WEEKS. i know that stepping on a scale will be a triggering point for me to start getting crazy.

i forget how difficult c-section recovery can be, though i'm not sure this one is more difficult than the last two.

THANK GOD I HAVE THAT LITTLE ANGEL to keep me company. We love to curl up together and doze off in bed together.

i thought i was done being a bitch

you know all those crazy hormones that make you a raging lunatic when pregnant are supposed to vanish once you give birth, but what is one to do when one of the dumb asses that work at the local Papa John's ate a slice of pizza that we ordered before we picked it up!?!

left me no alternative but to call and curse out the uneducated Dumb ass manager who told us the best he could do is give us a fresh pizza AND make us wait an additional 10 minutes longer!

what happened to customer service? I suppose since I live in a college town, he is used to walking all over timid coeds...

...and obviously he has never felt the rath (albeit over the phone) of a woman who had just had a c-section, was without her pain medicine AND was HUNGRY at the same time!

...oh and had hungry kids waiting for that pizza!

I NEED A NAP....that pissed me off typing it all over again.

going home pics

After 4 nights and 5 days at the hospital, including a day and a half of treatment for jaundice, a condition where the liver, in small newborns, is unable to excrete the production of a toxin called bili rubin from the body effeciently. The condition is marked by the yellowing of the skin and eyes. UV light exposure and exposure to sunlight is a cure, but b/c she had several days of elevated numbers, she had to wear a bili blanket and keep getting retested before we could discharge. Thank God, her numbers finally started going down, though we still have to go to the OBs first thing Monday for another test(poor baby),

IN any event, we got our discharge papers FINALLY, and we headed home Friday...

well, you know I had to doll up a bit and girlify the boys ' old car seat and she fits quite snug and comfortable in her snuzzler, this relatively new award-winning invention for securing new borns, premies and tiny babies in their car seat.she is all dolled up. Every nurse and even I called her "he" all the time. hmprph! I couldn't help but not call her by her 2 1/2 year old brother's name either. What's up with that? I have turned into my mother. I think I'm going to buy some baby barettes and keep her hair in that. I was so certain that she looked like a girl, much like her eldest brother, but maybe....hmmm..
we have pics like this with each kid outside this same hospital which has seen us a three-peat customer. :D