Breastfeeding
London is about 2.5 weeks and going through a growth spurt. The pain is unbearable and I’ve given him a few supplements to be able to survive. I’m ready to give up, it hurts so much. I was “squeezed in” for an appt tomorrow at the OBGYN’s office to see a nurse practitioner. John and I will be going together (with London) and leaving the girls with my friend who is very Churchy. While we are there, we will be requesting a prescription for Nifedipine to help combat the Raynaud’s as well as sign the paperwork for me to get a Tubal. We’re definitely done having kids. 
I’ve got a heavenly baby this go ’round, but our life doesn’t allow room for more. Wish me luck tomorrow, I’ll keep you posted. I’m gonna die or quit nursing if I don’t get a solution to this soon. At this point, I don’t feel the slightest bit bad or guilty about giving him the evil formula. Anything for a little relief.
On Tuesday Rachel asked me “Momma, are your boobies really going to fall off?” LOL
London at 2.5 weeks
Back to normal
Let’s get my life back to normal and quickly.
Steo one: Send my parents home safely (check!).
Step two: get Julie sleeping back in her own bed (check!).
Step three: catch up on dishes and laundry.
Step four: Get back on track with school, probably ask for incompletes.
Step five: Finish work on GAFS.
Step six: Catch up on billing all of my customers.
On a side note, John’s mother had apparently been working on a stitched quilt for Jack and it came in the mail last week and it is really pretty. I’ll work on getting a picture of it up here this weekend.
Read More10 Thousand Things
There is an ammendment to London’s birth stats. He weighed 8lbs 3oz at birth and not the 8lbs 14oz as was previously stated. Apparently one of the blankets that was in the bowl that he was weighed in was not properly “tared.” I have since weighed the blanked in question and have had to bump his weight down. Kind of funny that he was 8-3 when Rachel was 6-3 and Julie was 9-3. I guess the elevation really does make a rather large difference. 10 fingers, 10 toes and a very healthy baby, what more could we ask for? One that doesn’t pee on us during every diaper change maybe? What is *UP* with that….
It’s almost a week since London was born and things haven’t stopped for us. My Mum came to visit on Wednesday night and by Saturday she was admitted into the hospital. It’s in the wee hours of Monday morning and she is still there. My Dad flew out Sunday night and has arranged for them both to stay through Friday depending on what the myriad of tests show. Just a little stressful right now. Well, beyond stressful. I just hope my Mum gets well again VERY SOON, it is really hard to see her sick… especially when she is a “stiff upper lip” british woman who never complains about physical discomfort.
Julie is very much a toddler right now and is making things quite stressful for me. Let me rephrase that… By John and I choosing to have unprotected sex and getting pregnant so soon after having Julie, we put together a recipe for stress that I didn’t fully realize until Jack Jack was born. Having them so close together is far more difficult than I ever imagined. Having to carry them both down and up the stairs at the same time should help me shed a few pounds, having to get them both in the car is pretty tough. Nursing the baby while Julie FLIPS out over something minor and screams and thrashes about in full toddler style is raising my blood pressure I’m sure.
I’m finding my life to be rather overwhelming right now, and this is *ME* talking. I can juggle 15 hot irons in the fire on any given day. I felt it important I document how overwhelmed I feel and how challenging I am finding our new addition to be. I don’t want 25 years to roll by when Rachel is welcoming her first child into this world and look to me for support only to find a mother who looks back on the experience with rosy colored glasses. There is nothing glamorous about new motherhood. I’m absolutely EXHAUSTED. My nipples are about to fall off. I haven’t had 10 minutes to myself as I’ve either been nursing, holding the baby (who doesn’t want to be put down), feeding the kids, cleaning the house and trying to keep afloat.
Tomorrow is “back to work” day and while that is a little daunting for me, I have to ignore how I am feeling and carry on as best as I can. Must regain control over homeschooling Rachel who has been a great helper and is noticeably far more mature than she was 18 months ago when John and I welcomed Miss Julie into the world. I did make a fabulous Navy Bean Soup on Saturday that I have enjoyed 3 bowls of. Tomorrow I’ll probably do some take-out, just to keep my sanity about me. My Dad will take my minivan to the hospital so I don’t have to take all three kiddos out again, so that is somewhat of a relief. It’s really hard to take all three out right now around naps and nursing. I’ll get the hang of it, just taking a little longer than I had expected.
John has been *THE MOST* amazing, supportive and wonderful husband. I can’t believe the things he has done for me since my water broke. In general, I am the luckiest of women in the husband department. From cleaning up after our *PLANNED UNASSISTED HOMEBIRTH* (yes folks, we planned it), to staying up until 4am yesterday morning to work, do laundry and clean the house, to making a Key Lime Pie on Wednesday for my Mum’s arrival and cupcakes *FROM SCRATCH* with Rachel and doing anything and everything that I have asked and not asked no matter how he is feeling or the time of day….. We’re coming up on 4 years together, thank you yahoo.com (LOL).
Words Julie is saying right now: hot, up, down, I love you, baba (bottle), Bopbop (Doodlebops), more, no, meow, moo, woof, boo, wawa (water), Momma, Daddy, Mah, nuh-nigh (nite nite, complete with a kiss blown), Mazz, open, baby, (LIST INCOMPLETE, will have John help me finish).
Last night I had a crazy religous dream. It took place on the front steps of this house. There was a knock on the door and it was a man who was trying to “sell” me his religous. One of those religons that promotes going door-to-door. This guy, early 60′s (Jack awake… will finish tomorrow).
I know I have other stuff that I’ve had in my head to write about, but this will have to do for now.
Read MoreSomething…
I better write something. Anything. Or else I’ll be a hypocrite when I give others a hard time for being lazy and not keeping the blog updated.
Since it is officially Saturday, I am officially 38 weeks pregnant. This past Monday I spent the entire day and night in Memorial Hospital only to basically (in the end) have wasted my entire day. They ran every test under the sun from extensive bloodwork to urine to catscan to leg ultrasound (OUCH) and a nuclear scan. They believe I have a blood clot somewhere but couldn’t find it. After keeping me all day, they then sent me up to L & D. Originally I went to L&D in the morning but they had no beds, so I was escorted down to the ER and, well, whatever. You get the point. I’ve got a major shortness of breath problem that has improved a little since Monday but at some points I can BARELY breathe. Not sure what is going on, I’m hoping that things will clear up after I have the baby.
John and I went out on a date tonight, leaving the girls with F (the babysitter). After 5.5 years of only having my Mom or one friend (who both live very far away), John and I have been slowly breaking a mothers helper in and have left her with the kiddos a few times now. I’m still nervous about leaving them with anyone, but have been taking baby steps. They are only so little for so long, right? John and I went to Fargo’s Pizza Company for dinner. It was definitely different, I can’t say I was extremely impressed. It would have been a borderline nightmare if we had brought the kiddos. Afterwards we went to Joyrides and had a decent time. The golf course was the UNIMAGINABLE, nearly to the point of not being able to play. We waited in line for about 15 minutes to go on the go karts (amongst obnoxious teenagers) and when we got up to the front, the kid running the karts didn’t want to let me on. It’s a “ride at your risk” type policy and I was willing to take the risk. C’mon, I’m 9 months pregnant and I carry a very heavy and opinionated 1 year old up and down a flight of stairs with our puppy in tow MULTIPLE times a day. Letting me go around a go-kart track for 4 minutes is a picnic. I had fun.
John is asleep, the girls are konked out. I’m planning on having a quiet and uneventful saturday with just us. I love the company of our friends, the girls really like F, but… tomorrow I told Rachel it was a “just us” day. John has to see customers in the morning and I plan on getting some work done in the afternoon, but I don’t want to do much other than hang out with my kids. Rachel has been run ragged going to school all day, she needs some time just to reset her brain and do some mindless tv watching and playing outside. Julie is “down for whatever.”
Life is going well. I am on a week break and start 2 new classes next week. There are 2 classes per session and 2 sessions per semester. 3 classes a semester is considered full-time, but I’ve signed up for 4. I don’t want to be 30 and still working on this.
The kids are great. The marriage is great. I’m great. Life is great.
Tired
Getting up at 630am is for the birds. It is so hard to drag everyone out of bed and get them ready for the bus stop walk. We’ve recently added a puppy into the mix and she has been really great about the potty, just gotta keep that up. Rachel is loving Kindergarten, I think in another month we will put her into some sort of activity. Michael’s has a lot of cool offerings.
We found a Mother’s Helper that we are going to try out today. We’ve been talking about hiring someone for a few afternoons a week, after school. She lives a little far away but goes to the same district that we live in (she is a senior) so we are looking into the possibility of the bus dropping her off. I remember when it was me and I was doing the babysitting. It makes me feel old.
Had the carpets cleaned yesterday, they look fabulous. The guy who did the carpets also was able to clean Julie’s mattress. We only bought the mattresses a few months ago but Julie apparently needs to have a plastic cover and not a fabric cover. We’re going to buy one today. Julie is great, still puking when overstimulated but we’ve learned to anticipate it and either “get her out of it” or clean up really well.
John and I are doing well, got some new ideas for the business which we are planning on implementing soon. We’re really excited about that.
Read MoreHey Love…
Sweetest Rachel,
I love you so much and am so proud of how you are turning into a little girl. If we can make it through these next two weeks, I will be a very happy Momma. I know you’re just a little bored because you haven’t been in School for 8 months and you’re used to being in at least part time Preschool. Let’s try to have more patience with one another. I’m not going to let you have soda for breakfast and I’m not going to let you watch TV all day, so please stop asking.
I love you and I know you love me and Daddy (and Julie) very much… but you need to try a little harder, and I promise to try a little harder as well.
I love you, honey. (((HUG)))
Read MoreHoliday Weekend
Girls are great. Jack and I had our first appt and we are both doing very well. John is awesome, working on dishes as I type. Business has picked up for the both of us and while we are still struggling, who isn’t?
I’d ask that everyone who reads my blog to send some positive thoughts of health and stregnth to our friend N. He is starting another battle against cancer this week and we are rooting for him 100%!!!
This afternoon we are taking our neighbor with us to the Firefighter/MDA Chili Cookoff, we’ve all been looking forward to it for weeks!!
Tomorrow we head to Denver to spend the day with Mickey and Minnie and kiddos. Funnily enough, John (well me since I am the one who coordinates this stuff) accepted a quick network install in the town over from our friends. Not sure how that will work, but can’t turn a feasible job down, right?
Sunday and Monday will entail hanging around the house, I really want to see “Hitch!” We’ll probably go to the fireworks in town on Monday.
Things are good. Busy. Hectic. Fun. Stressful. Overall, we are super super happy.
Interesting Thread
I read a thread on one of the boards I belong to, asking how you grew up. Middle Class, lower class, etc. I figure we grew up middle class, on a very very tight budget. I have no idea (and still don’t) have any idea how much my parents made every year while my father was salaried. My Dad has since left the FT world and has been consulting for years.
I wonder if Rachel knows how (not) wealthy we are.
Kate: “Rachel, is Mommy and Daddy rich or poor?”
Rachel: “Rich. We’re rich.”
Kate: “What does it mean to be rich?”
Rachel: “When you get all the money.”
Kate: “What does that mean?”
Rachel: “Rich means you are really, really really rich.”
Kate: “If you’re rich, what do you have?”
Rachel: “Money, diamonds, a Princess.”
Kate: “Do we live in a nice house?”
Rachel: “Yeah, and we get all the nice money in the house.”
************************************************************
I guess I am like my parents, in that money problems (when they arise) are not discussed in front of the children. I never want my children to worry about money. Definitely realize that the family is on a tight budget and ask for things accordingly, but I never want them to be concerned with whether we can pay our bills.
Read More14.5 Months…
Julie has started taking her first steps. Rachel was just shy of 15 months when she started walking, and it looks like Julie will head down the same path. People say that “bigger” babies walk later, but Rachel wasn’t a big baby. I think my kids just like to be held. Constantly. Like all the time. Julie has John wrapped around her little fingers.
Rachel is bored out of her mind and I am finding it to be quite trying. I am going to all the town sponsored events that I can manage and she is in TBall, but summer camp is proving to be out of our budget this summer. She is too smart for her own good.
Work is good. Both John and I got some new customers this past week and he has already received payment from most of them. I, on the other hand, find myself waiting for payment from multiple people, but that is the nature of my industry. Well, for those of us who don’t hide behind complete automation and email.
Not much else, just really busy. I get the feeling that my friends and online “buddies” feel alienated because of my lack of contact, but my life has been busy, trying to keep us above float and continue to promote the good geeks in our new market. Sometimes I wonder if my online friends that feel alienated are feeling this way because of “talk.” But those that know me, know that my life is truly busy at the moment, and not just a case of me vanishing.
I. Clearly. Have. Not. Vanished.
Quite the opposite, actually, as I am now 24 weeks pregnant. I’m expanding.
Read MoreWeekend
We had a great weekend! Saturday we had a bunch of people over for Rachels Birthday Party and Sunday we went to SantaLand.
Totally rocked. I have pictures for those that are interested.
Read MoreKicks!
19weeks and the flutters I have been feeling turned into kicks tonight. 5 distinct kicks. Very cool. Probably the baby getting back at me for walking so much at the Denver Zoo. We met up with a bunch of ladies from Colorado Moms today that got the four of us into the zoo for free. Woohoo.
Had a great day. The kids really enjoyed themselves, I wound up with a sunburn. Anyone *really* all that suprised?
Sisters.
My daughters are very lucky to have each other, they truly share a special bond. Julie is a bit obnoxious as she can’t really talk yet and has a hard time getting across what she wants. Instead of asking Rachel for a bit of her sandwich this morning, Julie pushed Rachel about 2 feet (yes, my 13mo old is strong enough to push her nearly 5yo sister around.)… and while Rachel was recovering, Julie snatched a bit of the PB sandwich. Right now they are on the seat/ottoman watching a show with a stuffed animal each, Julie drinking some milk. They are as content as can be, almost as close as I imagine siamese twins to be. I’m so lucky.
Read MoreTRIUMPH!
I dragged my ass out of bed at 5am and arrived to Rachels future elementary school just short of 6am and waited in line (well, there was no line until 6:40) to get Rachel signed up for full-day Kindergarten. I am very proud of myself. When school rolls around, the bus will pick her up at 720am and she will come home at 2:50pm.
She is going to LOVE full-day Kindergarten!!!
Read More
TeamRachel aka mrskatvon is both a website to gain public awareness of Juvenile Batten Disease (which affects my oldest daughter) as well as a journal to remember the events in our lives.
Rachel was diagnosed with Batten Disease in July 2009 and while we knew something was "not right" we had no idea that such a nightmarish disease existed. There are dozens of nasty, orphan disease which affect people both very young and old.
Aside from dealing with the changes of Batten Disease in my daughter, Rachel, I have tasked myself with making life memorable for all of my children to make sure that (at least) 3 of them grow up to be as well adjusted and happy as possible.
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