Frantic

Ok, I am 33 weeks. I am living alone with my 6 year old boy and my 2 year old boy. I have NOTHING for this baby except a gift box of an outfit that just happened to be on sale for $1.50. I've been having complications {been in twice for contractions} so I'm not supposed to do a lot. My house is in complete disarray {dishes and laundry every where and toys all over etc.} and things need to be rearranged for baby furniture and supplies.... assuming I miraculously end up with some.... I have a registry at walmart.com, but no bites....

I have no help at all. All these things need to get done and i can't depend on ANYONE to help me move things or what have you. I am apparently expected to accomplish all this on my own somehow. Some of these things I couldn't even move when I wasn't pregnant... but whatever.

So don't be surprised if I send out an announcement sometime soon.

A New Chat Room

Check out this new Chat Room specifically for Preggos, TTC, and Mamas.

http://preggosnmamas.chatango.com/

Ben's Improving...

At least in the Speech Department. {lol}

• kool-aide
• big ball
• hep pees {help please}
• mama cook
• E-yo {Orin}
• bac-bac {back-pack}
• cookie

And he adds more every day! The speech therapy is hit or miss... It depends on his moos or how he feels that day. We've been dealing with a flare up of asthma and croup, so he's not been feeling quite like Ben.

Decisions...Decisions...

With Thomas working full-time and going to class at night, it's up to me to get the preparations taken care of - as well as the rest of the house work. Then of course there's the full-time job of caring for accident-prone Ben.
So far, I have officially bought the first baby item. It's a gift-set of Spider-Man clothes: a t-shirt, a diaper cover, a beanie cap, and a pair of booties. It's adorable. We've tentatively picked out the furniture. We've designated the "baby room". Names have been discussed. We've decided to keep our name choices to ourselves for now.
I still need to register at the hospital and make a baby registry somewhere. Thomas's mother has requested to to care of the baby shower, so if you are interested in attending, let me know.
The 2 sets of furniture we are looking at both incorporate the light blue and brown colors, so that's pretty much what we are going for. So for those of you who were thinking of gift ideas, there's a starting point. We are going to ask the Dr. if she has a bottle type preference. If not, then it will be one of two types. Of course, my goal is to breastfeed, but we are gonna need bottles anyway.
I think one of my most difficult decisions to make will be the designation of the God-Mother. We agreed that Thomas will name the God-Father, and I get to choose the God-Mother.

For other news, I have taken the gestational diabetes test, but have not gotten the results back. I have started seeing the Dr. every 2 weeks now rather than every 3-4 weeks. I have gained a total of about 15-16 lbs. and the baby encompasses my whole abdomen. Thomas finally felt him move. Even Orin has felt the baby move and respond to him. Ben doesn't quite get it yet. When we ask him "Where's the baby?", he still points to his own stomach first. The baby's movements don't phase Ben at all, like he doesn't even feel them.
I get tired very quickly. The Dr. told me I can get a 4 hour shift somewhere, but so far, no one wants to deal with that. And now with Thomas working all these hours, I need to stay home with Ben. Every night, I go to bed with a sore back, only to lay awake most the night anyway.
Speaking of bed, it's time for me to try to get Ben down. Until next time....

More of Ben's Words

• pees {please}
• k {ok}
• pow pow {time out}
• a,e,i,o, - then he points at YOU

he has tried some phrases:

• pees chg bana {his version of 'please change the channel'}
• I done
• pees ah {'please let me have a bite' or 'please give me something to eat'}

Random Update

I haven't blogged in a bit, so I figured I'd give an update.
Orin is great, of course. He's been acting up, but he's trying to be good and helpful.
Ben is, well, Ben. He tries so hard to communicate. We officially start speech therapy next week.
Now, the baby is a'movin' and a'shakin'! At 5 months, I already look like I have a basketball in my belly {well half in my belly, half in my butt}. He seems to get bigger every day.
Still no name picked out, but we have plenty of time. I haven't gotten any family feedback whatsoever, so I'm thinking they {the extended family: grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.} aren't interested. I have sent update emails to them, and receive no response. Oh, well. It depresses me, but I can't let it get to me. I have my boys, Thomas, and my brother. In addition, a have my small handful of friends. I guess that's all I need. My mother tries to help, and she does what she can, but she has tons of obstacles to overcome right now, some of which her children {us} have helped to cause inadvertantly. {Mom, if you are reading this, I love you and don't blame you for anything.}
Well, I think I have babbled enough. Peace be with you all.

It's A Boy!!!!

We went to get the ultrasound today. We saw all the parts, including the boy parts!

Adding to Ben's Word List

• done
• home
• chz {cheese}
• woowoo {car}
• kick
• pillow
• quack quack {duck}

Possible Speech Therapy {for Ben}

We met with a caseworker involved with the ECI, which is {I believe} Early Childhood Intervention {I'm not looking at the paper at the moment}.
This caseworker went over several questions with us and about half as many peices of paperwork. She weighed Ben, measured his height, and got his head circumference.
The information she addressed included {but is not limited to}:

• how many words does he say
• does he understand what you say to him
• does he follow directions
• possible concerns about sight, hearing
• sleep habits
• how does he communicate his needs
• daily habits and structure
• ability to interact with others

The caseworker's next step was to explain that because the ability to talk and the ability to hear are connected, his initial "hearing test" failed. Not because he can't hear, only because he doesn't talk much. She will set up an actual hearing examination for Ben at another time, just to make sure there IS nothing wrong in that area.

She made a second appointment for a couple weeks from now. She will bring the speech therapist and possibly her supervisor. It will be then that a judgment will be made as to whether Ben needs speech therapy and/or other services they provide.

Ben's Verbal Progress {as of June 25, 2009}

• mama
• dada
• yay-yay {his name for Thomas}
• O {Orin}
• nana {banana}
• ni-ni {night night}
• num-num {food}
• co {cup}
• coco {milk, choc. milk}
• wa-wa {water, juice}
• doh {no}
• ya
• bye-bye
• ba {done, empty} *said like a goat "baaa"*
• ba {bath} *said like the beginning of the word bath*
• ball
• hel {help}
• HoHo {a character on Ni Hao Kai Lan}
• Ni Hao {Chinese for hello}
• hewo {hello}
• hi
• hey
• go
• weee {his slide}
• wow-wow {Wow Wow Wubbzy}
• go-go-go {Yo Gabba Gabba / Go Deigo Go}
• col {cold}
• butn {button}
• ow {booboo, owie, bite, bump, etc.}
• aah {he wants a bite}
• uh uh {no}
• eye
• uh oh

He also makes animal noises:

• monkey
• elephant
• cat
• dog
• bear/lion/tiger/monster/etc

I Think...

I think the baby kicked me the other night... I remember all too well when the boys kicked, and this felt just like it. I got so excited, but of course Thomas couldn't feel it.
Then today, s/he moved to the front of my stomach and was like a hard ball protruding out of my already showing belly. Again, I got excited, but again, Thomas missed it!
Ben is really getting used to the baby being in my belly. I ask him "where's the baby?" and first he points at his belly {he's either saying himself or that the baby's in his belly} then when I say "no," he rushes over to my belly and lifts my shirt, says "hi" and starts tickling the baby or giving it a kiss!
Orin, my little man, has started helping with Ben a lot more. He changes some of the wet diapers {you should watch that, it's so cute} and helps to feed him etc. I can't believe Orin promised me he is going to change all the baby girl's {he wants a sister so he thinks this one is a girl} diapers - even the dirty ones!! That's one for the books! It started out as a joke. We were teasing him about taking care of the new baby and he stood up and said all chivalrously "I'm gonna help Mama and change all the baby girl's diapers - even the dirty ones - I promise!" Of course I'm not gonna hold him to that, but it sure would have been great to have recorded it and tease him with it later... j/k

The Dr. Visit

We went to the 3rd appointment today. All was good news.

• Baby's heartbeat- 163/minute
• My weight- 111 lbs. {gained 3 lbs.}

The next appointment in three weeks will include a blood test meant to screen for certain development issues.
Then, on my 20 week visit: we get to find out the sex!!!! Woo Hoo!! We were hoping it would be sooner, but it's ok... it's not like this baby is going anywhere! lol!

I listed off my main complaints: fatigue, headaches, cramps
Again, she assured me that this is normal pregnancy stuff and that I'm doing fine.

When the nurse came in to find the heartbeat, the cold gel and the pushing aroung made my little ducky wiggle! I was starting to wonder because I actually haven't felt any stirrings in a couple days. All is well though!!!

Let's Talk About My Boys

Meet Orin. He's my 6 year old. He just "graduated" kindergarten. By age 4 he was counting to 100. He has been reading since then too. He is my knight in shining armor; my sweet, sensitive, chivalrous big helper. He was so excited to get his baby brother.... until he figured out that baby brother isn't as nice as he is. So far, he has suffered bloody noses and knocks on the noggin for his troubles! When he found out about baby #3, he was even more excited! He said he wants a girl this time...and he hopes it's a NICE baby!

Which brings me to Ben. He's my 2 year old. The word "no" means nothing to him and he bulldozes his way through everything. He can be very sweet, but only if he's in the mood. Otherwise, he's a wild animal who refuses to wear clothes while at home. He definitely keeps things interesting. He has fully functional hearing but would rather use sign language to communicate his needs. He does use a few verbal words, but it's so few compared to where Orin was at this age. While Orin will be the brilliant artist, Ben will be the daring stunt-man!

Where I'm At As Of Today {I borrowed this from Emily}

Sorry it's blurry, my 6 year old took the picture with my phone! lol
How far along: 14 weeks 4 days
Net weight gain/loss: approx. 5 lbs
Maternity clothes: not yet, but I'm running out of pants to where!
Stretch marks: only what was already there from the previous 2
Belly button: still an innie
Sleep: Eh. I'm on leave from work, so I get plenty of time at home... Thomas lets me sleep alot.
Baby movement: just some wiggles here and there... unless s/he's mad at Daddy {lol}
Food cravings: slushies and smoothies, potatoes
Food aversions: seafood
What I miss: mixed drinks, bars {not that I went out much to begin with, but until the smoking ban kicks in....}
Looking forward to: Thomas being able to feel the baby move
Best moment this week: having the whole weekend with Thomas to myself :)
Milestones: no longer sick all day!

Introduction

This is my first post on this site. Let me just start by introducing myself. My name is Tammy Avery. I am 26 years old. I have a 6 year old boy named Orin {I call him Bubby} and a 2 year old named Benjamin {I call him Boo}. I am starting my second trimester of my third pregnancy.
Orin's father {Paul} left us and I got a divorce. Ben's father {Jarrod} beat me, so I eventually left him and got my second divorce. Now, I am happily involved with Thomas. He will make a wonderful father. My intention for this site is to blog about my babies, but there might be some occasional off-topic posts.