She's Here!

Stella is Here! A little earlier than planned but perfect in every way! Stella arrived Saturday, July 19th at 3:13 p.m. She is 6 lbs. 12 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. Much smaller than Madison who was 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 1/2 inches. We've been back and forth to the doctors and hospital because she does have some jaundice. Hopefully she'll be cleared tomorrow so we can go about settling in. Thanks to Danielle and the awesome Sleepy Wrap that arrived today I'm wearing my baby for the first time and actually getting a chance to catch up in bloggy world and on emails! Here are some pics. Enjoy!



P.S. Saturday is the last day to enter my giveaway for a Soda Club Fountain Jet. You have to be in it to win it (I know it's dorky but I've always wanted to say that. Besides I'm working on minimal sleep here!)

Last Preggo Post?

So it is 6:00 a.m. and I'm 3 hours away from heading into the hospital for a couple of tests. My doc. suspects the beginnings of preeclampsia so for the past 24 hours I've been collecting my urine (one large container not a bunch of little samples but gross none the less). Two days ago when I found out there was a very good chance Stella would be coming ten days earlier than originally scheduled I started freaking 'cause I just didn't feel ready. Now my bags are packed, Madison and I had a great day together yesterday and Justin and I had our last date night last night for probably awhile. At this point I'm ready as I'll ever be. Sure the house could use another good vacuuming, there is probably another load or two of laundry to do and a pedicure to be had (never got to that yesterday) but nothing monumental. Definitely not anything that can't be handled by Justin while I'm in the hospital or anything that won't need to be done once I get home and on my feet again!
I really can't wait to meet my little girl, see who she looks like, smell her sweet baby breath. I know Madison and Justin can't wait either but at the same time I feel slightly guilty for making Madison share us from now on. I know the bond between sisters will be an amazing one that I've never experienced and she will be better for having a little sister in her life but the guilt is still there. I know it is not just me though 'cause I've heard the same thing from other moms going from 1 to 2 children. Well I guess we'll just have to see now if today is actually the big day!

In the meantime don't forget to check out my new giveaway for a Soda Club Fountain Jet.

Dropping Madison off at my parents' before going to my fav. restaurant Labrador Lounge. I can't beleive how swollen my legs are! No Madison is not happy and yes she is wearing a Cinderella costume!

You're going where?

One of my closest friends is expecting her first baby. Her due date is August 11th which last time I checked was less than a month away. She looks amazing but is definaltely tired all the time and is dealing with constant backaches and water retention. Duh she's about to give birth!
Throughout her whole pregnancy she has been talking about her family's annual vacation in Cape Cod (about 5-6 hours from where we live). She has also said all along that she plans on going as long as she feels good and her doctor is okay with it. Any of her friends that already have kids just told her she was crazy and that she won't be up to going. Well this weekend she is heading up to Cape Cod with her husband and dog in tow for a week AGAINST her doctor's wishes. Everyone including her husband has tried to talk her out of it but she refuses to miss the chance to spend a week with her parents and sisters (she sees them all on a regular basis anyway).
Whenever she asks what I think I tell her I think she is absolutely insane for going on the trip and that she better take a hospital bag and the baby's car seat with her just in case. Her response is to usually laugh or say that there is no room in the car 'cause her German Shepard takes up the whole back seat. I love her dearly but I do think she is being super selfish and needs to start putting her child ahead of her desires. Maybe that is just something that comes after the baby is acutally here. Please tell me if I'm being too harsh or if what she is doing seems completely fine. I'm not trying to rag on her I'm just really concerned for her health and the baby's and I think she is making a really poor decision. I also forgot to mention that she has not researched the nearest hospital or doctor's office in case one is needed and the fact that she is actually going to miss one of her ob visits for this trip!

I Thought I Was Tired!

Although this time around I haven't felt as well as I did with my first pregnancy, all in all I do enjoy being pregnant. That doesn't mean that I'm not already counting down the days to meet my new daughter and be in control of my own body once again. I have less than twelve weeks to go until the scheduled c-section. Eighty-Two days to be exact (but whose counting). At this point he possability of me doing this (being pregnant) one more time is almost certain but after that I'm more than likely done. Never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine being pregnant for 11 years of my life!



Why do I mention being prengnant for 11 years? Michelle Duggar is the reason! She is the mom of 17 from Arkansas. I remember reading an article about her last summer when she gave birth to baby#17 and thinking "Not me, No Thanks". Well she and hubby Jim Bob are once again in the news. Why you ask? Yep that's right she is preggers yet again! According to several internet sites that I checked out Michelle is six weeks along and due with this baby on New Year's Day (the fourth Duggar child to be born in the month of January). 18 kids and I get nervous thinking about the arrival of my second! This would not personally be a choice for me but obviously it is for some people. I wish them the best of luck with all of their children ranging in age from 20 down to 9 months. I'ld love to hear what you think and also know what number seems good for you. Have a great weekend!

Tracy

P.S. Click on the Duggar family pic to check out their website or go to Discovery Health Website to learn more about their series "The Duggar's Big Family Album"

I'll get better at this. I promise!

Wow! Where did the past month and a half go? Every day I make sure to check out newmommyrant.blogspot.com but I'm not nearly as diligent about posting on my own blog. I've even commented on my friend's site but nothing added to my own.

Anyway as my about me section mentions, I'm expecting my second daughter this summer. My due date is August 6th but it is looking like she will be a scheduled c-section around July 31. I was really hoping for a Vbac but my docs feel that my lack of progression (only 2 cm after more than a day) and the size of my first daughter (8lbs. 9oz.) the chances of me having a successful labor is very slim and they would feel much better if I opted for another c-section. Although I'm not 100% sold on another c-section, right now it is not on the top of my list for concerns.

My current concern is my weight gain or more so my lack there of. Tomorrow I will officially be 22 weeks pregnant and have yet to gain a pound! During my first pregnancy I gained a more than healthy 38 pounds and never quite lost it all. When I got pregnant this time I already had weight to lose and started off being very cautious with what I ate. Throughout the first trimester I dealt with some morning, noon and night sickness but a ton of food aversions. Besides that I also had 2 rounds of asthmatic bronchitis (no I don't typically have asthma) and 1 case of sinusitis. Needless to say eating was not high up on my list of things to do and I ended up losing 15 pounds. This led to me visiting my ob every 2 weeks and receiving warnings that if I did not stop losing I would find myself in the hospital. Hello, don't you think I wanted to eat????

Fast forward two more months. I've now lost a total of 18 pounds but baby girl #2 is estimated to be a very healthy 1 lb. 2 oz. The weight loss has pretty much stopped and I have been eating everything within arms length for the past week or so. I've become so paranoid about my lack of weight gain that I step on the scale a minimum of 5 times a day. I didn't realize how bad it had gotten until my daughter started following in suit and hopping on to "see how big she is" every time she passes the bathroom. This is not at all an issue that I want embedded into my child at any age let alone 3 years old! So I guess my question to anyone who is willing to comment is do you think the number on the scale should matter if the baby and I are both healthy (I'll post some pictures soon but even a blind person can see that I'm pregnant at this point. Okay maybe not a blind person but you know what I mean). I'd also love to hear anyone else's weight gain/loss stories from their pregnancies just so that I know I'm not the only one out there!

Promise to blog again soon,
Tracy

P.S. I know my site is UGLY at this point. I'll be working on that in the weeks to come too!