for Back-to-school!!!!!
Jade starts back to school on Tuesday, September 1st! For the last few weeks I really haven't been looking forward to back to school. I can honestly say I have enjoyed having Jade home. I have also enjoyed having the freedom to sleep in a few mornings, let the kids nap late if they need to, and being able to go where we want, when we want, without needing to be home by a certain time to pick Jade up from school.
But now, looking around my house, and seeing what a disaster it has become over the past few weeks, I am actually looking forward to getting back into a routine! I have re-vamped my weekly chore list, and I am hoping to get this place back in order - at least for a few weeks, then baby will be here, and I am sure things will become a disaster again for a little while!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
My Sister
I have debated doing a post about this topic for a while, but haven't done it. I now feel that it is time.
I am worried about my sister. Actually, I am more worried about her 6-month-old daughter, Lily.
Ever since I found out last summer that Christine (my sister) was pregnant, I was a bit worried. She has always been immature, and irresponsible, and has had some drug problems in the past. She was 19 and single, and the father was a 32-year-old, who worked at the same restaurant as her. In my mind, that was a big red flag from the start. I mean, what 32-year-old is interested in, and has sex with, a 19-year-old??? Obviously a loser, who needs to grow up!
I didn't want to be a hypocrite, since I myself got pregnant when I was 18, and single. But the minute I found out I was pregnant, I made the choice to grow up, and be a mother to my baby. So I figured Christine would do one of two things: Grow up, and be the mother she needed to be, or not, which would lead to a difficult life for both her and her baby.
After a difficult end to her pregnancy, which included needing to get the baby out early, and her only weighing 2 lbs 5 ozs, I *thought* Christine would grow up. Having a baby in the NICU is a very difficult thing, and I figured that, coupled with the fact that the baby's father abandoned her the day she delivered (yeah, nice!) would really help her to realize the important things in life.
There were little things that bugged me right from the beginning, but I am not even going to elaborate on them, since they are more things of personal preference, and I believe that everyone is entitled to parent how they see fit, as long as it isn't causing harm to their baby.
Then, shortly after Lily came home from the hospital, I started to notice that when ever I called my mom (my sister and Lily live with my parents), she was holding/looking after Lily. It took great strength for me to bite my tongue, and not say anything. Then I noticed my sister started putting pictures on Facebook, of her out to dinner or at the bar, with her friends, only months after Lily was born. I knew my mom was the one at home looking after Lily.
Now I realize that this is none of my business, but it bugged me. When I had Jade, I was young too. But I always looked after her at home, and I'm pretty sure I didn't go out at all, for the whole first year! Yes I lost all of my high school friends, and I didn't get to be a "regular" 19-year-old, but I made that choice to grow up, and essentially give up my life, for my daughter.
It also bugged me that my parents were letting my sister act like this. They would never have let me get away with dumping my baby on them, so why were they letting her do it?! I realize that it is natural for them to want to help, but they aren't doing her any favours by taking over her responsibilities. She needs to grow up, and learn how to take care of her baby by herself.
Finally in June, my mom started to complain about how much Christine was going out, and how much she was getting stuck looking after Lily. So I finally spoke up. I told her my thoughts, and how much I appreciated the fact that they didn't step in and help me with Jade, and that I believe it made me a better mother, and stronger woman. So my mom said that after their 5 weeks at the lake, she was going to really put her foot down, and not do so much for my sister.
Now remember, we spent 3 of those 5 weeks at the lake with them, so that really gave me the chance to see how my sister was doing things. Again, there were a lot of things that bugged me, and like I said before, everyone has the right to parent the way they want to, and if it works for them, great. But the way my sister does stuff DOESN'T work! She has Lily on NO schedule as far as sleeping/eating, and whenever she cries, she just gets mad and stuffs a bottle in her face! Then she wonders why she spits up all the time! She doesn't have a set time of day when she makes bottles, she would wait until there were none left, and we would be about to go out the door somewhere, and she would have to make bottles. Again, I KNOW these are little things, but if things aren't really working for you, wouldn't you take suggestions from people who have, and currently are, raising young kids??
I also found out while we were at the lake, that Christine started smoking again. She quit while she was pregnant, so why would she start again?? The one day she was complaining about how much her special formula costs (Lily needed to be on a high fat formula for the first 6 months, because she was born so small), and then the next day I see her smoking. If you are that concerned about the cost of feeding your baby, why would you waste money on cigarettes??
I should also mention the fact that she does NOTHING around the house, not even picking up after herself and Lily. She leaves dirty dishes every where, won't jump in and help my mom with anything, even when she is asked, and half the time my mom does Lily's laundry, because her basket is over-flowing.
SO, since they got back from the lake, in the first week, she went out SEVERAL times with her friends, one time, not getting home until 4:30 in the morning. My mom was VERY mad, and told her no more! It's time to buckle down and be a parent! A few days later, she went to BC with her friends for a week, leaving Lily with my parents. This was a pre-arranged trip, that she had planned since June. I shared my opinion with my mom, that she shouldn't let her go, but she did. Again - you have a 5 month old baby. You don't get to go on road trips with your girlfriends!!
So since she got back, Christine and my mom have been doing nothing but fighting. My sister doesn't want any input from my mom, yet she wants her to watch Lily for her ALL the time! She doesn't seem to realize that she is not a "normal" 20-year-old! She is a mother, with a baby!
So now, the latest, is that she is seeing someone. The room-mate of the brother of Lily's father. Weird? Yeah, I think so! My mom said this guy is 28, and unemployed. Great. Another winner!
So the other evening, he came over to my parents house to watch a movie. Well, my mom got up in the morning, and his shoes were still by the front door. My sister made up some excuse that the DVD player in the main room wasn't working, so they had to go to her room to watch a movie, and they must have just fell asleep. Yeah, right!
The next morning (yesterday), again, my mom comes down to the kitchen, and through the closed basement door, she can hear Lily crying. So she goes downstairs to see why Christine isn't getting up with her, and finds Christine and this guy, in bed, sleeping. My mom told her to get up, and look after her baby. So my mom went to work, and when she came home, my sister was sitting on the couch playing Guitar Hero, while Lily was in another room, in her playpen, wide awake, crying.
I am sorry, but in my mind, that is neglect. You don't just ignore your 6-month-old baby, so you can sleep, or play a video game!
So last night, my sister asked my mom to watch Lily so she could go over to this guys house. My mom refused, so my sister packed up Lily and took her with her. As of 2pm this afternoon, she hadn't come home yet.
I really don't like the path my sister is heading down. She is either going to get back into drugs, or get pregnant again, or both! It scares me that Lily is 6-months-old, and my sister still hasn't grown up and become a mother. I feel bad for my mom, who is stressed out, because she wants to just back off and let my sister make her own mistakes, but not at Lily's expense. Ultimately, Lily is the one who is going to suffer from all of this.
I am worried about my sister. Actually, I am more worried about her 6-month-old daughter, Lily.
Ever since I found out last summer that Christine (my sister) was pregnant, I was a bit worried. She has always been immature, and irresponsible, and has had some drug problems in the past. She was 19 and single, and the father was a 32-year-old, who worked at the same restaurant as her. In my mind, that was a big red flag from the start. I mean, what 32-year-old is interested in, and has sex with, a 19-year-old??? Obviously a loser, who needs to grow up!
I didn't want to be a hypocrite, since I myself got pregnant when I was 18, and single. But the minute I found out I was pregnant, I made the choice to grow up, and be a mother to my baby. So I figured Christine would do one of two things: Grow up, and be the mother she needed to be, or not, which would lead to a difficult life for both her and her baby.
After a difficult end to her pregnancy, which included needing to get the baby out early, and her only weighing 2 lbs 5 ozs, I *thought* Christine would grow up. Having a baby in the NICU is a very difficult thing, and I figured that, coupled with the fact that the baby's father abandoned her the day she delivered (yeah, nice!) would really help her to realize the important things in life.
There were little things that bugged me right from the beginning, but I am not even going to elaborate on them, since they are more things of personal preference, and I believe that everyone is entitled to parent how they see fit, as long as it isn't causing harm to their baby.
Then, shortly after Lily came home from the hospital, I started to notice that when ever I called my mom (my sister and Lily live with my parents), she was holding/looking after Lily. It took great strength for me to bite my tongue, and not say anything. Then I noticed my sister started putting pictures on Facebook, of her out to dinner or at the bar, with her friends, only months after Lily was born. I knew my mom was the one at home looking after Lily.
Now I realize that this is none of my business, but it bugged me. When I had Jade, I was young too. But I always looked after her at home, and I'm pretty sure I didn't go out at all, for the whole first year! Yes I lost all of my high school friends, and I didn't get to be a "regular" 19-year-old, but I made that choice to grow up, and essentially give up my life, for my daughter.
It also bugged me that my parents were letting my sister act like this. They would never have let me get away with dumping my baby on them, so why were they letting her do it?! I realize that it is natural for them to want to help, but they aren't doing her any favours by taking over her responsibilities. She needs to grow up, and learn how to take care of her baby by herself.
Finally in June, my mom started to complain about how much Christine was going out, and how much she was getting stuck looking after Lily. So I finally spoke up. I told her my thoughts, and how much I appreciated the fact that they didn't step in and help me with Jade, and that I believe it made me a better mother, and stronger woman. So my mom said that after their 5 weeks at the lake, she was going to really put her foot down, and not do so much for my sister.
Now remember, we spent 3 of those 5 weeks at the lake with them, so that really gave me the chance to see how my sister was doing things. Again, there were a lot of things that bugged me, and like I said before, everyone has the right to parent the way they want to, and if it works for them, great. But the way my sister does stuff DOESN'T work! She has Lily on NO schedule as far as sleeping/eating, and whenever she cries, she just gets mad and stuffs a bottle in her face! Then she wonders why she spits up all the time! She doesn't have a set time of day when she makes bottles, she would wait until there were none left, and we would be about to go out the door somewhere, and she would have to make bottles. Again, I KNOW these are little things, but if things aren't really working for you, wouldn't you take suggestions from people who have, and currently are, raising young kids??
I also found out while we were at the lake, that Christine started smoking again. She quit while she was pregnant, so why would she start again?? The one day she was complaining about how much her special formula costs (Lily needed to be on a high fat formula for the first 6 months, because she was born so small), and then the next day I see her smoking. If you are that concerned about the cost of feeding your baby, why would you waste money on cigarettes??
I should also mention the fact that she does NOTHING around the house, not even picking up after herself and Lily. She leaves dirty dishes every where, won't jump in and help my mom with anything, even when she is asked, and half the time my mom does Lily's laundry, because her basket is over-flowing.
SO, since they got back from the lake, in the first week, she went out SEVERAL times with her friends, one time, not getting home until 4:30 in the morning. My mom was VERY mad, and told her no more! It's time to buckle down and be a parent! A few days later, she went to BC with her friends for a week, leaving Lily with my parents. This was a pre-arranged trip, that she had planned since June. I shared my opinion with my mom, that she shouldn't let her go, but she did. Again - you have a 5 month old baby. You don't get to go on road trips with your girlfriends!!
So since she got back, Christine and my mom have been doing nothing but fighting. My sister doesn't want any input from my mom, yet she wants her to watch Lily for her ALL the time! She doesn't seem to realize that she is not a "normal" 20-year-old! She is a mother, with a baby!
So now, the latest, is that she is seeing someone. The room-mate of the brother of Lily's father. Weird? Yeah, I think so! My mom said this guy is 28, and unemployed. Great. Another winner!
So the other evening, he came over to my parents house to watch a movie. Well, my mom got up in the morning, and his shoes were still by the front door. My sister made up some excuse that the DVD player in the main room wasn't working, so they had to go to her room to watch a movie, and they must have just fell asleep. Yeah, right!
The next morning (yesterday), again, my mom comes down to the kitchen, and through the closed basement door, she can hear Lily crying. So she goes downstairs to see why Christine isn't getting up with her, and finds Christine and this guy, in bed, sleeping. My mom told her to get up, and look after her baby. So my mom went to work, and when she came home, my sister was sitting on the couch playing Guitar Hero, while Lily was in another room, in her playpen, wide awake, crying.
I am sorry, but in my mind, that is neglect. You don't just ignore your 6-month-old baby, so you can sleep, or play a video game!
So last night, my sister asked my mom to watch Lily so she could go over to this guys house. My mom refused, so my sister packed up Lily and took her with her. As of 2pm this afternoon, she hadn't come home yet.
I really don't like the path my sister is heading down. She is either going to get back into drugs, or get pregnant again, or both! It scares me that Lily is 6-months-old, and my sister still hasn't grown up and become a mother. I feel bad for my mom, who is stressed out, because she wants to just back off and let my sister make her own mistakes, but not at Lily's expense. Ultimately, Lily is the one who is going to suffer from all of this.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Flashback Friday!
I realize that it has been FOREVER since I have done a Flashback Friday, but hey, better late than never, right?!
These are pictures of the triplets when they were one month old. Looking at them now, it is hard to believe how tiny they once were! A few more weeks and I will once again have a tiny little baby to hold! Not as small as the triplets, but still small, compared to how big all my other kids are now :)
Hayden, Cole, Kadance
These are pictures of the triplets when they were one month old. Looking at them now, it is hard to believe how tiny they once were! A few more weeks and I will once again have a tiny little baby to hold! Not as small as the triplets, but still small, compared to how big all my other kids are now :)
Clockwise, starting at the top: Cole, Kadance, Hayden
Hayden, Cole, Kadance
Patience
Patience is a virtue. One that I seem to be lacking lately.
I know part of it has to do with the fact that I am 8 months pregnant. Part of it has to do with the fact that I have THREE, 2-year-olds. And part of it has to do with the fact that I have a bored 7-year-old. But I just seem to have NO patience lately!! I feel like all I do is snap at the kids ALL the time. I am ALWAYS telling them to hurry up, and I freak out when they don't do what I want, when I want! I KNOW that I am expecting too much from them, especially the 2-year-olds, but I honestly feel like I can't control myself sometimes. I just get so worked up and angry about things!
I am looking forward to Jade going back to school on Tuesday, so that she has something to do during the day, and isn't bored at home, which results in picking fights with the little kids. I am looking forward to having this baby, so that I can feel somewhat physically normal again, and hopefully get into a daily routine. Then maybe I will get some of my patience back!
I know part of it has to do with the fact that I am 8 months pregnant. Part of it has to do with the fact that I have THREE, 2-year-olds. And part of it has to do with the fact that I have a bored 7-year-old. But I just seem to have NO patience lately!! I feel like all I do is snap at the kids ALL the time. I am ALWAYS telling them to hurry up, and I freak out when they don't do what I want, when I want! I KNOW that I am expecting too much from them, especially the 2-year-olds, but I honestly feel like I can't control myself sometimes. I just get so worked up and angry about things!
I am looking forward to Jade going back to school on Tuesday, so that she has something to do during the day, and isn't bored at home, which results in picking fights with the little kids. I am looking forward to having this baby, so that I can feel somewhat physically normal again, and hopefully get into a daily routine. Then maybe I will get some of my patience back!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
36 week prenatal appointment!
Today I had my 36 week prenatal appointment. Everything is still good! I am measuring 37 weeks, so one week ahead. Baby's heart rate was 160 bpm. The great news is that baby is head down again!! The doctor said it has lots of room to move (he actually said baby is living in a palace, due to my pre-streached uterus! lol!), so there is still the risk of it flipping back, but hopefully it won't!
I got the doctor to check my cervix today, but unfortunately nothing is happening yet. I guess it is still early, but I was really hoping things might start softening up and thinning out. Oh well, baby will be coming soon, and now that I am down to weekly appointments, I am sure the time is going to fly by!!
I got the doctor to check my cervix today, but unfortunately nothing is happening yet. I guess it is still early, but I was really hoping things might start softening up and thinning out. Oh well, baby will be coming soon, and now that I am down to weekly appointments, I am sure the time is going to fly by!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Triplet Comparison
Okay, after complaining about how huge and sore I am, I just had to go back and see how big I was just before having the triplets. So here is a picture of me 34 weeks pregnant with the triplets (I had them at 34w5d). I was definitely bigger with them, and sometimes I don't know HOW I did it! lol! But I guess I also didn't have three 2-year-olds to run around after, so I was able to relax more, and conserve my energy!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
36 Weeks!
I can't believe I am 36 weeks pregnant! Only 4 more to go!!
I have gained 34.5 pounds, and I am feeling huge, sore, tired, and cranky! My hips and pelvis have been in almost constant pain, and it is getting harder to walk, as baby is sitting so low! I am ready to be done! I am really hoping the next 4 weeks go by fast, or better yet, I hope the baby comes a couple weeks early. I feel bad for Gairod and the kids, because I have been SO cranky lately. I have had such a short temper, and EVERYTHING is irritating me! lol! Tomorrow is my prenatal appointment, and I will update some more then!
I have gained 34.5 pounds, and I am feeling huge, sore, tired, and cranky! My hips and pelvis have been in almost constant pain, and it is getting harder to walk, as baby is sitting so low! I am ready to be done! I am really hoping the next 4 weeks go by fast, or better yet, I hope the baby comes a couple weeks early. I feel bad for Gairod and the kids, because I have been SO cranky lately. I have had such a short temper, and EVERYTHING is irritating me! lol! Tomorrow is my prenatal appointment, and I will update some more then!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sick little Girl :(
Kadance woke up in the middle of the night last night, throwing up. Luckily, she had hardly eaten anything for supper, so it was pretty much just watery mucus mixed with a bit of stomach bile, and dry heaving (sorry, I KNOW you didn't want that mental image!). Poor little girl was up SEVERAL times, then Gairod and I finally decided to just bring her into our bed, since every time she woke up screaming and heaving, she woke up the boys too.
So we put a bunch of towels down on our bed, so she wouldn't make a mess, and TRIED to go back to sleep. Well, she was up several more times, and managed to not get anything on the towels, but instead make a mess of our sheets and duvet cover - go figure!
So needless to say, today I am EXHAUSTED. Kadance seems to be feeling better - she has eaten, and hasn't thrown up anymore, since about 7:15am, so that is good! Everyone else seems to be fine SO FAR, and I am hoping it stays that way! I have been busy doing extra laundry all day, and haven't gotten anything else done that I wanted to do. I was planning on getting the house back in order this week, but today it is a disaster! Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
So we put a bunch of towels down on our bed, so she wouldn't make a mess, and TRIED to go back to sleep. Well, she was up several more times, and managed to not get anything on the towels, but instead make a mess of our sheets and duvet cover - go figure!
So needless to say, today I am EXHAUSTED. Kadance seems to be feeling better - she has eaten, and hasn't thrown up anymore, since about 7:15am, so that is good! Everyone else seems to be fine SO FAR, and I am hoping it stays that way! I have been busy doing extra laundry all day, and haven't gotten anything else done that I wanted to do. I was planning on getting the house back in order this week, but today it is a disaster! Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
Heartburn and Crazy Movements!
For the last few days, I have had such bad heartburn!! I have never had heartburn with either of my other pregnancies before, or earlier in this pregnancy, so I am not sure WHY I am getting it now?!
MAYBE, it has something to do with how crazy my baby has been moving for the last couple of weeks!?! This baby has seriously been ALL OVER the place! I am sure it keeps switching from head up, to head down, to transverse - several times a day! It is moving so much that it is actually quite uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful. I am hoping it will just settle down into a nice head down position - SOON!
MAYBE, it has something to do with how crazy my baby has been moving for the last couple of weeks!?! This baby has seriously been ALL OVER the place! I am sure it keeps switching from head up, to head down, to transverse - several times a day! It is moving so much that it is actually quite uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful. I am hoping it will just settle down into a nice head down position - SOON!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Baby's Room!
Baby's room is done!! YAY!
My mom and I painted it last Sunday, I cleaned the carpet on Monday, and on Tuesday Gairod set up the crib, and brought in the change table and dresser! The last couple days I have been busy buying and washing a few clothes, receiving blankets, crib sheets, wash clothes and towels. I now feel ALMOST ready for baby to come! The only things I still need to buy, are a carseat/stroller combo, and a baby monitor. I am hoping to get those things this weekend.
My plans for next week, are to get my (and baby's) bags packed for the hospital, and get my house cleaned - it has been neglected for the last few weeks!
Then I would really like to get some meals made and frozen before the baby comes. I hate cooking dinner at the best of times, and I think it will be a real struggle when I am exhausted with a new baby, so I am hoping to have at least a few weeks worth of easy, throw-in-the-oven meals prepared!
My mom and I painted it last Sunday, I cleaned the carpet on Monday, and on Tuesday Gairod set up the crib, and brought in the change table and dresser! The last couple days I have been busy buying and washing a few clothes, receiving blankets, crib sheets, wash clothes and towels. I now feel ALMOST ready for baby to come! The only things I still need to buy, are a carseat/stroller combo, and a baby monitor. I am hoping to get those things this weekend.
My plans for next week, are to get my (and baby's) bags packed for the hospital, and get my house cleaned - it has been neglected for the last few weeks!
Then I would really like to get some meals made and frozen before the baby comes. I hate cooking dinner at the best of times, and I think it will be a real struggle when I am exhausted with a new baby, so I am hoping to have at least a few weeks worth of easy, throw-in-the-oven meals prepared!
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