baby bedding

Baby bedding is quite interesting these days.  There's the "babyish" themed stuff with things like pastel colored teddy bears and balloons, to the "not baby-looking at all" stuff with more plain/solids designs.  And then everything in between.  I guess it's good.  We're all different.  We all have different decorating styles.  So, with all these options, everyone is in luck.

With little guy I chose a bright colored theme found at Mothercare.  It had giraffes, elephants, turtles, and hippos.  It had this modern look to it that I liked, and it was bright and cheery for a baby/small child.  I was able to find everything to match; all the bedding pieces, the mobile, extra blankets, a baby bath tub, and even extra accessories like PJs and bibs.  And the quality was great.  We still have most of these things.

For baby #2, I've gone with a new theme.  Little guy and his baby brother will be sharing a room, so I wanted something that would match with little guy's pick of Thomas the Train.  Again, Mothercare came to the rescue and I found a set called My First Adventure.

I bought all of the bedding last month, including the mobile.  I love the curtains but think the measurements are too small so we'll have to wait on those. 

So today, we're hoping to make a trip to buy the furniture that we need.  I'm looking forward to this project.  I'm not the "sick leave" kind of girl, so I need something to keep me busy while I'm here at home.  ;)

more spotting equals another trip to the hospital

For three days I've had more spotting.  Not a lot.  But it was there.  From my most recent trip to the hospital I was informed that any spotting should be investigated.  With my history and problems with this pregnancy, we should take care.  So after three days, I decided it was best to go. 

My hospital has a special maternity ER.  And because my OB/GYN is always booked with patients in the clinic (also located in the hospital), we are advised to go to the ER for any concerns/complications.  So the ER is where I went last night.  I have no other problems.  No pain.  No cramping.  Etc.  This time the Dr. on duty (who was the same Dr. I saw there just last week), thought it'd be best for a vaginal exam.  From this exam she determined a few things.  1) At the time, there was no blood.  Good.  2) There was discharge so she did a swap which will be sent to the lab and tested for infection (She's thinking this could be what's going on with me).  3) The cervix is closed.  Very Good. 

She then ordered another ultrasound, which I was able to have done right away.  Everything from the ultrasound is good.  The placenta is still good too.  And baby is looking good.  He's a whole 3 pounds already!  My calendar date says that I'm 29 weeks along, with a due date of 6 February.  The ultrasound is now measuring that I'm 30 weeks, 6 days, with a due date of 29 January.  The Dr. said we will still go with the calendar date.  However, if baby comes in January, I will not be surprised.

So, as of now, things are good.  I have an appt. with my OB/GYN next week.  I'll find the results of my swab from her and see if I need yet another antibiotic (I hope not).  I will also receive my sick leave and will be off work until after my maternity leave.

Tomorrow night I'm looking forward to my baby shower which will held by my friends.  The hostess, a friend who I've known for years, is making a Thanksgiving dinner.  Yum!  My friends are buying gifts which will be helpful in completing my list.  I'm about 90% done with my list.  After the shower, I think I'll only need a couple more items and I'll be ready for baby brother.  Hospital bags will be packed sometime this week....just in case.

Next up, buying and setting up little guy's new "big boy bedroom".  He wants to share a room with his new brother, so we'll put the crib in there with him, and the bassinet in our room, next to my bed.  Yesterday we started going through the baby storage (things that I saved from little guy's baby days).  I'll be working on cleaning and organizing these things in the coming days/weeks.  And to my family reading this, don't worry, my housekeeper will be helping.
So far, so good.  But I must say, I hate spotting.  It has ruined me.  Long ago I thought about having four children.  But, now I'm thinking that two sound good to me.  ;)

preparing for sick leave

I have decided that it's finally time to take my Dr's advice and go on sick leave.  She has been suggesting this for the past two months (actually, maybe it's been more than that).  And I have to say that for most of the 2nd trimester, I felt pretty good.  I didn't want to rush into the sick leave thing because getting out everyday and keeping busy with work has had some advantages.  Although I feel huge, I haven't gained as much as I did with my first pregnancy.  And it has helped pass the time more quickly.

However, it's time to rest.  Teaching young children requires a lot of physical energy.  And if I were one of the lucky ladies of this world who have healthy, normal pregnancies, I'd try to hang in there til the very end.  Or if I had an office job, I'd stay on longer.  But I'm not one of those women nor do I have one of those jobs.

Aside from a history of one preterm baby, I've had a lot of stuff going on this time around.  The spotting, the actual bleeding, the placenta problems, and some more spotting.  Yeah, these are the parts that have certainly not been fun. 

For example, I had some recent spotting.  Two seperate episodes, one brown and one pink.  Both causing a bit of concern, although I didn't panic.  I believe that I mentioned the brown spotting in the previous post.  My Dr. ordered an ultrasound for that (which was good) and told me that I need more rest.  The pink spotting I mentioned to the ER Dr. when I went to have an absess on my leg looked at (which btw, they didn't have to call the surgeon for, I was given a local antibiotic cream, told to continue the oral antibiotic I was already on for an infection, and it is healing on it's own....thank God...draining an absess can be very painful).  With my history, the ER OB/GYN informed me that everything MUST be investigated.  So, she ordered a CTG scan (which I'm a pro at bcuz I had to do this every 8 hours for 1/2 an hour each session for the whole week before little guy was born). 

This scan monitors baby's heart rate and checks for contractions.  Two sensors are strapped onto Mommy's belly, and she gets to relax in bed.  This time I was given a little switch and asked to pushed the button each time I felt the baby move.  For more info, click here.  p.s.  This is also where I got the above image.

My scan showed that baby was fine, but the Dr. still wanted an ultrasound done.  She was concerned about the placenta and the cervix.  So she was able to get me in for an "urgent" ultrasound, which thankfully showed that baby and everything else are fine.  And again I was told, "more rest".

So, it's that time.  To finally listen. 

image via

My priority is to keep this pregnancy going along for as long as possible, for baby's sake.  So, in less than 2 weeks, I'll be going on leave.  I hate to leave my students at this time, in the middle of the year, but they'll be fine.  My supervisor is in the process of hiring my sub, and if we find her in time, I can train her before I go on leave.

I'm just trying to get things all ready and organized for the sub and then I'll be on my way.  I won't return until after my maternity leave.  That's a weird feeling, but not a bad one.  I think I'll get more time with little guy and hubby, which is a great feeling.  :) 

And on a happy note, my friends are throwing me a baby shower this weekend, complete with a Thanksgiving dinner.  Yay!  I'm excited more about the food than the gifts or the games...lol.  Little guy is super excited.  On the same day he gets to have his Star of the Week party at school and then a party for "his baby" in the evening (where he'll get to play with 27 of his friends...yes, I have a lot of friends, who have a lot of kids...lol).

So, here's to less than 2 more weeks of work!  

pregnancy update. 28 weeks.

Aren't you all excited?  I'm writing 2 posts in one day.  LOL.  I've been so busy and so occupied it isn't even funny.  I've had no extra time for blogging.  However, I have sort of made this blog a place where my family can read up on my pregnancy details and I'm sure they've been wondering what's going on.  So an update is in order.

I had an appointment with my OB/GYN this past week.  I mentioned to her that I had some brown spotting a week before.  And btw, if you ever experience brown spotting, you must inform your Dr.  I only had it once so I didn't panic.  I decided that if I were to see if again, I would go to the ER and get checked.  Knowing that I had an appt. and with only seeing it that one time, I waited until I went to the Dr. (also I had nothing out of the ordinary; the baby was moving as usual, there were no cramps, etc).  I personally thought that it could've been related to the suppositories that I have to take.  But who knows. 

My Dr. is being extra cautious with me.  We want to try our best to prevent another preterm birth, but at the same time be prepared in case it's inevitable.  Also, it's around this time that many Drs will order some more testing.  So this is the list of things my Dr wanted:

• Glucose Test...For this test I had to fast for 8 hours.  I was only allowed to drink water.  They will take one tube of blood and then give you a sweet orange drink (it's kinda like the orange drink that they had at McDonald's when I was little).  Then you have to wait for two hours.  After the 2 hour period, they will take another tube of blood.  The blood gets sent to the lab and they will determine if you have gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy).  My result:  no diabetes
• Blood Test...Just a routine blood test to make sure things are all good and healthy.  My result:  A slight infection.  I have to take an antibiotic and use a vaginal creme for one week (which is no fun because those suppositories I was talking about before now have to be used rectally...ew).
• Urine Test...Another routine test done throughout pregnany.  My result:  good, no problems.
• Steriod Injections...I had to have these done when I was admitted a week before little guy was born.  The injections will help the baby's lungs to develop in case of an early birth.  There are two injections and they are given 12 hours apart.  And I have to say that while the actual injection itself doesn't bother me, the after part does.  It hurts for a little while after.  I had a sore bottom, but don't worry, it goes away after a small amount of time.
• Ultrasound...I never mind my Dr requesting one of these.  I like to see the baby and make sure he's alright in there.  And our littlest little guy is doing just fine.  He was actually chilling out and resting his hand on his face.  And he already resembles his big brother, at least in utero.  And in addition to that, the placenta is good.  It's in the upper segment, which is where it should be.  So that's a major plus (remember before, I had bleeding because the placenta was low and there was a small detachment?). 

So all in all, things are coming along well.  My Dr wanted to give me a sick leave so that I stop working.  I'm going to hang in there for a few more weeks and then most likely take her up on the idea.  It's becoming more and more difficult at work.  I teach 2nd grade and that involves a lot of physical activity.  I will not push myself, so knowing my limits, my time at work before baby arrives is getting shorter.  I already informed my supervisor to start looking for my sub as I will be on leave sooner than later.

And because my ultrasound is telling me that I'm 28 weeks and due 6th of Feb (a week earlier than our previous date), I'm even more concentrated on getting baby's things ready.  I have 90% of my list complete.  We have a few more things to buy and we'll be ready for this baby to arrive.  I'll be packing the hospital bags in the near future as well.
From my first child I learned.  It's never too early to be prepared and ready.

image via google

yes i'm getting "big", it's called being pregnant

Rule #1 when talking to a pregnant woman....NEVER, and I mean, NEVER, EVER tell her that she looks too big or too small.  It is THE most insulting thing you can say and it will send her into a mental panic.

Telling a woman that she looks too small to be whatever month she is in will make her worry that her baby is not growing enough.

Telling a woman she is too big will make her worry that she will deliver a full grown elephant (not to mention that you're basically telling her that she looks like a whale, and believe me, she already feels like one, so no need to make her feel any worse).

The truth of the matter is that all women and all pregnancies are different.  You simply cannot compare, SO DON'T!  Keep your mouth shout and you'll save her the worry and stress, and yourself a black eye.  ;)

In my own personal case, I have had people saying the word "big" and boy does that make me mad.  Ok, first of all, there's a human being growing inside my body.  Of course, I will get big.  If you stuff a pita pocket with food does it stay flat or look bigger?  I think we all get what I'm saying.  And second of all, I care only what my Dr has to say on the matter.  If she think I'm "big" or "too big", she'll be sure to tell me.  This I am sure.

And I would like to thank Demi Moore.  I'm not into the whole posing nude for a cover thing, but she did pose while she was 7 months pregnant (which is the month I am now in).

And while my behind and what not are not as slim looking as hers, my belly size is actually a bit smaller.  And, no, she's not pregnant with twins in this picture.  So there people.  Just google images of pregnant women and you'll see how many different shapes and sizes that women can be while pregnant.

So yes, my stomach is big.  That's because I'm pregnant.  Duh!

Ok, off my soapbox now.  ;)

image via wikipedia

baby laundry

I'm currently on a 10 day vacation, thanks to a religious holiday.  And this Mama needs it.  Little Guy is also excited to have some time off school.  During my vacations, I like to tackle projects around the house that I normally don't have time for during school days.  The list for this particular vacation includes a lot of what I like to call "Baby Prep".  So, I've begun washing for Baby Brother.  Baby clothes are so tiny and adorable.  They make Little Guy look not so little...lol.  But I must admit I've been having a lot of thinking moments.  Realizing that we're about to start from the beginning with a  new baby can weigh on the mind a bit.  However, we'll be fine.  Thinking about the baby on the way and actually handling the baby once he/she's here are completely different.  We tend to worry ourselves for nothing. 

So, back to my baby clothes washing...

We have a combination of clothes for Baby Brother.  Some things from Little Guy are in new condition and I held on to those just in case, which has now become very helpful.  However, there was still shopping to be done.  I'm the 2nd girl in my family so I'm used to hand-me-downs...lol.  And even though I feel no childhood trama from that, I still want each of my children to feel like an individual, starting from birth.  So some new pieces were needed.

Because we're living in the Middle East, my product options are a bit different than what I use in the U.S.  My only option for detergent is Pigeon.

And yes, I'm a firm believer that a baby detergent should be used for newborns.  I actually used it for Little Guy until he was about 1 year old.  Babies have such sensitive skin, and products like Tide seem too harsh in those early weeks and months.  When I'm in the U.S. I like to use Dreft detergent.

I also use baby fabric softner.  I prefer Baby Downy.

I have a front loading dryer (looks like a front loading washing machine, with a see-through door) so fabric sheets don't work all that well.  Although I have used them, they tend to get stuck in the front door/vent area and therefore are not moving about with the clothes like they should.  I have since found Bounce dryer bars which work great with a front loading dryer.  It looks like a bar of soap that hooks into a holder, that sticks inside the drum of the dryer.  They last 30-60 days, depending on which bar you buy.  But because these are fragranced, I just remove the bar during the baby clothes drying.  I figure with the Baby Downy, the clothes should be fine (which they are).  But when I'm staying in the U.S. with a standard drying machine, I buy fragrance-free fabric sheets.

And for all those cute teeny tiny baby accessories like socks and hats, I've been using my lingerie laundry bags.  They are perfect for small things.  I haven't lost a sock yet.  You can find these at a number of places.  I have several from different stores including Walmart, Target, and Dollar General.

And most importantly, don't forget to put these freshly washed clothes in a clean place like a closet, dresser, or container.  Baby Brother is not due until February.  We need to keep his clothes clean.  :)

And with that I'm off to continue the washing.  Next up, towels and blankets.

all images found thru google search

update

I've been a blog slacker.  But, as a pregnant working Mom, life is busy and full.  I have limited "extra time".  And these days I'd much rather go to sleep at a decent hour than stay up late on the computer.  I've been pretty good about getting an average of 8 hours of sleep a night and it's helping.  I'm able to get up on time for work as well as get little guy up and ready for school.  Make no mistake:  A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST GET PLENTY OF REST AND ENOUGH TO EAT.  Follow this rule and you may actually have enough energy to make it through each day.  ;)
So, a little update is in order since it's been over a month.  Geez!  Sorry about that, btw.

My placenta problems seem to have improved.  I've had another ultrasound and Dr's appt. since my last post and things are looking better.  My Dr. explained to me that because of the small detachment I had, there was a small collection of blood.  This is sometimes absorbed by the body, but sometimes it'll exit the body (which is what happen to me).  The important thing is to make sure the problem doesn't get worse.  But thankfully, everything looks much better.  The placenta has moved up thanks to a growing uterus, and no more detachment problems.  We'll keep an eye on this as we move forward. 

We have great news as well.  We have found out the gender of our new little one...

Little guy gets to have a baby brother.  We didn't have a preference in gender, but I'm excited for little guy.  I almost wish they'd be closer in age.  Raising two boys shall be interesting.  But, I'm up for the challenge.  ;)

We've been tackling our shopping list for the new baby.  I am a HUGE fan of Carters, especially for babies, and have bought many new outfits, among other things.  I also have things that I saved from little guy that I can use.  We've been buying packs of diapers and wipes as well.  We buy some everytime we go grocery shopping.  A newborn baby goes through an average of 10 diapers a day!  Best to stock up now.  ;)

Baby brother has been moving a lot these days.  His movements are still what I consider to be light, but there's no mistaking what they are.  He's sneaky I must say.  Hubby was only able to feel once so far, and everytime little guy tries to feel, baby brother takes a break...lol.  But not to worry, these movements will increase in number and in intensity.  I remember this from my first time around.  Little guy loved kicking my rib cage when he was hanging out in there.

My energy has picked up somewhat.  This is common in the 2nd trimester.  And this is also why it is a good idea to do most of the baby preparation during this time.  Take advantage of the ability to get things done, trust me!  Because of work, I have very early mornings, so by evening I'm done.  But during the day, I'm able to get things accomplished.

My friends are planning a baby shower for me next month.  My Mom and sister had one for me when I was pregnant with little guy.  I wasn't really expecting one since this isn't my first, but I think it'll be a lot of fun.  Baby showers are a great help too, I must say, especially for first time parents.  The gifts help Mommy and Daddy save money for other important things that will be needed for baby.

Picking a baby name is very challenging.  We are working on that.  I know, my family members are all curious about this topic.  I'm not sure that we'll even share the name choice until after baby arrives.  A baby's name is something that the parents and siblings should pick out of love.  It is not something up for critic from others.  When my Mom named me Kylie, some people thought it was strange and too different.  But you know what?  It is sooo me, and it is one thing that I've always loved about myself, even as a little girl.  I hope we can find a great name for this baby.

I'll be on vacation soon, and I hope to blog a bit more.  I have a million and one things I could write about...lol.  Hope to return soon.  :)

image via google