Hospital Bag- Part 2

The second time around for everything seems a bit easier for everything including baby #2. The fear of the unknown is now replaced by the fear of the "Oh god, can I do this again." This has been a constant concern since I found out I was pregnant. My first pregnancy was pretty great. This one has been a lot tougher for me. My body hasn't reacted well since the misery of my 1st trimester. There are some things about this time around that are a bit easier and packing for the hospital has been one of them.

The first time around I scanned the blog world for tips and tricks on what to bring. Most everything I saw was to avoid packing too much. I took that to heart and think I packed too little for myself. Like last time I intend on spending 2 days at the hospital but I will pack for 3 just in case.

Hospital bag by kj2380 featuring blue sandals

- Robe
- 2-3 yoga or pajama pants
- 2-3 nursing tops
- 2 nursing bras
- 2-3 underwear although those mesh panties are so great!
- Flip flops
- Non slip socks
- Toiletries- I will not forget the conditioner this time!
- Hair brush
- Hair bands
- Head bands
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Chargers
- Snacks
- Coming home outfit; Maxi dress and a cardigan

I am very lucky that my hospital provides mesh underwear, icicle pads, Tuck's Pads and Dermoplast. If yours doesn't I suggest picking them up for yourself after a vaginal birth. They were lifesavers.

I'm very lucky that the hospital is only 5 minutes from my parent's home. I pre pack our hospital bags and give them to my parents several weeks before my due date. This time around we will also pack one for Jack.
Check back tomorrow for what I'm packing for Jack and daddy!


What did you put in your hospital bag?
Is there anything that I may have missed.

Two and a Half?!?!

Health- 

Jack is doing AMAZING. He has been a new and potentially life changing medication that directly effects the mutation that causes his cystic fibrosis. He is growing strong. He's only been sick 3 times. Two ear infections (once combined with strep) and had croup back in December. 

Sleep- 

Jack just doesn't sleep well. He is in a full size bed. Most nights he falls asleep in our bed. Other nights in his bed but manages to get up, run to our room and sleep with us. 

Hair- 

It's such a beautiful dirty blonde color.  

Eyes- 

His eyes have changed so much this year. He had grayish blue eyes like me for the first 2 years and now he has a sort of hazel like his daddy. 

Clothes- 

Jack is wearing 2T. Shirts fit really well but anything 2T bottoms need to be rolled in fear they will fall down. I love that he can help pick out his clothes in the morning. He always goes for the trains, firetrucks or truck shirts. 

Social 

He is so incredibly happy and friendly. He loves his cousins and his buddy Michael. He has made friends at his weekly story time and his swim lessons. He  has lots of friends in the neighborhood people and dogs too. He knows all the dogs names. He has really started singing and participating in classes. He is still a shy boy and it takes time to warm up. Once he feels comfortable he talks and hugs everyone! 

Milestones:

- He is talking up a storm. I can't believe all the words he knows. 

- He's singing lots of songs. He loves The Wheels on the Bus, Five Little Monkeys, Five Little Ducks. 

- He loves his great grandpa's house. He hangs out with the horses, visits the chickens in the coop and hikes. 

- Jack has learned so much at his swim lessons. He has little to no fear of the water or going under. 

- He is such a polite boy. He knows his "Please, Thank You and You're Welcome"

- He repeats everything too. 

- He can throw a tantrum like no one else. I like to call him a toddler tornado! 

- Jack is still potty training and doing well. Besides last week when he decided to take a poop outside just like the dogs! 

-He absolutely loves dogs.

-Thomas the Tank Engine and any trains. Paw Patrol is another favorite but Minions tops them all! 

-He is a water boy. He still loves his baths.

-Family- He loves his grandmas and grandpas. 

- To eat. He is a great eater.

Dislikes- 

- Diaper changes

- Being told no

- Going to bed and sleeping

- Anything out of order or doors not closed. 

Babymoon Part 2

A few weeks ago we were so lucky to get away for a few days; just mommy and daddy! We went on a baby moon when we were pregnant with Jack. We took a road trip to North Carolina and spent a week at the beach the first time around. This time around we decided to go a little more low key and closer to home. We went to Crystal Springs Resort and it was heavenly. We spent days just laying around our awesome room, eating room service on our patio, swimming, getting a tan and visiting the spa for an amazing nurturing mom to be massage.

View of the golf course and mountains from our balcony

View from our dinner at the Crystal Tavern.
We ate the most amazing food, wings and waffles, steak and pork dinner, and desserts! 

The biosphere pool was fantastic.
The outside water was a little chilly but the water indoors was amazing. 

The weather was amazing.
Although I am shocked at how quickly I burn.
Another new thing I've learned about pregnancy 

Everything was so beautiful and I can't wait to go back. 

We were so relaxed.
We reconnected although we missed our little man so much.
We were so happy to have him back with us when we got home.

Our next trip is Great Wolf Lodge in July.
We can't wait!!!!

Great Strides 2016

This passed weekend we walked in our 3rd Great Strides Walk to Cystic Fibrosis. We walk each year in honor of our Super Jack. As many of you already know Jack was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at only 2 weeks old. You can read that story here. Great Strides is a wonderful that raises money and awareness for this terrible disease. We have been so lucky that Jack is so healthy. He is thriving. He is on a new medication called Kalydeco that is a life changer. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys and intestine. Long term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. There is no cure for CF but events like this and money raised help in so many ways. This year our team raised a little ovee $1,300 

We had a great day, Jack ran the track like a star. We had the high school marching band march and play through the first lap. The band had to be Jack' s absolute favorite part. We were lucky the rain held off until we were all finished. 

The pictures were definitely lacking this year. We had such a wonderful day but poor Jack got sick later Sunday night and we ended up in the ER. He was unable to swallow or even talk we got so nervous but thankfully he had a sore on his palette and is doing much better since we got him some antibiotics and some thing to help with the pain. 

19 Weeks (4 weeks ago)

How Far Along:   19 weeks. (4 weeks ago) Things are totally different with the second pregnancy. I was so good with updates last time around. 

Baby is the size of:  Heirloom Tomato 

Total weight gain: 5 pounds

Sleep: Depends on the night. Most nights I fall asleep pretty easy but waking up to turn makes it pretty difficult to fall back to sleep.

Best Moment of the week: Nothing yet. 

 

Worst Moment of the week: I'm still really upset after last week's appointment and sonogram. I think it's making me a nervous wreck. 

Miss Anything: A little red wine would be so nice right about now. 

Food Cravings: Sushi!!! I want it so bad but I'm staying away from anything not cooked so it just isn't the same. 

 
Anything make you queasy or sick: Smells. Oh my goodness, it is so bad. If I smell something I instantly start gagging. It's really the worst. Some one opened the fridge at work and some one didn't clean out their old food. Instant gag fest! I couldn't go back into the office for some time! 

Have you started to show? Yes. I'm much bigger this pregnancy. I'm much lower this time around too. 

Gender: Team Neutral!

Symptoms: I've been getting terrible hip and pelvis pain still. I'm working on walking and doing yoga to help. I swear it stops me in my tracks. I get stuck with the pain and can't move for a few seconds. Totally different from my pregnancy with Jack. 

Workouts: The occasional walk and yoga. 

Mood: I'm always worried. ALWAYS!

Looking Forward to: Feeling more movement. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes. I have a few maternity jeans and regular shirts fit well. I wish the weather would finally get about 50 degrees so I can wear some dresses. Although I look like a whale in any of my dresses. 

Reading: Mostly to Jack. He loves his new Big Brother book and Big Boy Potty book! 

Milestones: Baby's development has exploded. Baby's brain is designed to hear, smell, taste. Baby may even be able to hear my voice! I should probaby watch thos F-bombs from here on out. 

See my pregnancy with Jack HERE. 

Prenatal Yoga

I am obsessed. I can not believe I didn't try this with my first pregnancy with Jack. I find that I'm having a harder time this pregnancy. My pregnancy with Jack was amazing compared to this time around. I am 2 years older and apparently I'm geriatric in the eyes of my doctors. I am 36 and I feel every bit of that 36 this time around.

I've felt extremely sore all the time. A lot of it is caused by an old back injury but I have also felt incredible round ligament pain as well as pain through out my pelvis. These pains are completely different this time around. I also find the cause is because I'm growing much quicker than I did with Jack. Looking at my comparison pictures I'm humongous compared to the last time around. There is definite truth to being bigger the second time around.

To combat my my aging and my ultra sore body I decided to try prenatal yoga. I initially wanted to go to a prenatal chiropractor but couldn't find anyone in my area that was recommended and I really didn't want to just pick some one. I just started with a bunch of short 20 minute sessions and will be moving up. I have been doing it in the morning and the evening. I'm hoping it will continue to impact the issues I've been having.

Has anyone else had issues with round ligament pain, back pain and pelvis pain during pregnancy?
If so what did you find was the most helpful?

18 Weeks

How far along: 18 Weeks

Total weight gain: Nothing yet. 

Baby Size: Baby is the size of a bell pepper. She is about 5 /12 inches long and weighs 7 ounces. 

Movement: I don't think I feel anything yet and it is making me so nervous. I felt a lot more at this time with Jack. Can't wait to feel lots of movement. 

Sleep: Since I hurt my back sleeping is rough. I'm falling asleep just fine but I find any movement has been really uncomfortable.

Cravings/Aversions: It's weird. I have no appetite at all! Nothing seems tasty to me. I really am only eating to sustain. I seem to crave things but I usually have a few bites and thats about all I'm interested in. I have been craving juices, iced teas and anything iced cold. Passion fruit shaken tea from Starbucks has been a new favorite. 

Symptoms: Pelvis pain- I initially thought it was round ligament pain but the pain in my pelvis stops me in my tracks! I have to get up really slowly in order to feel less pain. Dry eyes- My eyes are so itchy. I need to get myself some eye drops. Heartburn- I'be already got my large Tums bottle ready for myself. 

Exercise: I've been walking as much as I can. I have also become obsessed with prenatal yoga. I feel like it's really helping. 

Mood: My mood is up and down a lot. My husband and I got in a fight and I didn't speak to him for 4 days. Thankfully everything is ok with us now. On Saturday I had a little meltdown at the meltdown at the mall with my mom because Jack was basically just being a toddler. My back pain has also made it hard for me to be positive. Lots of tears have been shed. 

Miss Anything: Beer. I've really been craving beer lately. I think because it's warm, we have been out on our deck and cooking on our grill. It all goes hand and hand with a nice cold beer.

See my pregnancy with Jack HERE. 

Confessions

I confess...

- We had our big anatomy scan last Wednesday and it was so rough. The tech was awful. The doctor was no better. I'm so nervous this time around and that appointment didn't help. I actually called to complain about how terrible my experience was.

- My pregnancy cravings are so weird. I don't crave food. I crave fluids all the time, juice, water, iced tea and when I ran out of my own I drank some of Jack's juice boxes. 

- After Jack started a new med last week and its making me so nervous. He is experiencing some side effects and its basically scaring me to death. I'm sure he will be fine but one side effect is having no interest in foods. My great eater has resorted to crackers and rice cakes that melt in his mouth. My poor boy. 

- My husband and I can NOT agree on a name for baby #2! No one singular name at all!  

- I'm binge watching One Tree Hill, AGAIN, for the 50th time. I can't get enough of this show! I can't be the only one, right?

- I really felt the urge to hit an old lady yesterday when she called my son a "bad boy" for crying in the store. He was doing nothing but crying. I had to bite my tongue and walk out or else I was afraid of what I would do. 

Linking up with Confessions of a Northern Belle

Favorites- Anniversary Edition

Happy Friday and Happy Anniversary to this couple! Today is our 4th wedding anniversary. What better way to start out our day than sharing my most favorite moments with my guy.

Buying our home- 

We may have been only dating for 9 months when we bought our home. I guess you could say we just knew. 

Celebrating the day we met at the same apple orchard every year since we met. 

Disney World- 

We were dating about 6 months so going away with one another was pretty interesting. As I have an awful fear of flying it was on this trip when Brian really got to see my fear and anxiety. He handled it like a champ and I was finally able to let my walls down. Plus, its the happiest place on earth. Why wouldn't it be perfect. 

Our multiple trips to North Carolina- On our first trip I swore he would propose, he didn't but I certainly made sure I looked perfect for pictures just in case.

Engagement Day- 

Brian proposed to me where we first met under the tree where he said was the first moment he just knew a few years earlier. 

Our Second Date- 

We stayed up all night. We went to a haunted house, had dinner, sat in a park for hours just taking and  when the sun rose we went to a cafe for coffee. 

When I become his wife. 

Honeymooning in Bermuda- 

Getting to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine to swim with the dolphins. 

When the 2 of us became the 3 of us. 

When we found out the 3 us us would become the 4 of us! 

Happy Anniversary Brian! 

A Little Bit of Positive

About a year ago I was going through a tough time with stress and I created a post filled with positive quotes. I got a lot of great responses. Although I don't have the same stress as last year I had a terrible sonogram appointment yesterday. Thankfully the baby is absolutely fine but the tech who did the sonogram was rude and the doctor was pushy and tried to change my opinion on testing and doing an amnio. I also found out I was sent to this doctor to find downs and CF when I was told it was due to me turning 36 last month. On a day I should have been happy I was really upset and cried most of the day. I guess I could really use some positivity today.

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So have a little positivity to start the day...