Life with a baby

I've been a Mommy for over 2 months.  Wow how time flies.  The little man is such a social smiler.  He wakes up with a smile on his face.  He must get his early morning cheeriness from my mom, cuz neither H or I are morning people.  :)

My days are pretty simple.  He wakes up around 9am, so that's when we start our day.  He'll eat shortly after he wakes up, then he'll spend some time just playing.  He catnaps and eats when he wants during the day.  When he's awake I try to interact with him.  We run errands when we have to, but I prefer to wait for H to go with us.  Just much easier to have 2 people.

Back before I got pregnant I was working with the No Worker Left Behind Program here in Michigan.  I was all set to start a pharmacy technician program at the local community college.  Then I found out I was pregnant and due the same time the class (and final tests) would be ending.  So I postponed the class till after Baby Rebel was born.  About 6 weeks after he was born I contacted my case worker to see what I had to do to get back in the program.  I updated my paperwork, and now I'm just waiting to be approved so that I can start in the class that starts October 19th.  The class finishes the beginning of June next year, and then I would be a certified pharmacy technician and could get a job!

Enchilada Casserole

Source- Kraft Website, I made a few changes and used some of their alternate changes along with some of my own. :)

This recipe was included in an email I get every month or so from Kraft.  It looked easy enough, so I added it to this week's menu. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
• 1 can (16 oz.) fat free refried beans
  
• 1/2 cup Water
• 2 tsp. Chili powder
• 6 Corn tortillas
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes 
• 1/4 cup Sour Cream

Preparation

• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook meat and onions in large skillet on medium-high heat 3 to 5 min. or until meat is no longer pink; drain.
• Stir in tomato sauce, refried beans, water and chili powder; cook until heated through.
• Place 2 tortillas in bottom of oven safe dish (used corning ware 2 qt. dish); top with layers of 1/3 each meat sauce and cheese.
• Repeat layers 3 times.
• Put in oven until cheese is melted.
• Let stand 5 min.
• Top with tomatoes and sour cream.

Next Time- This recipe turned out really good.  I actually made more than the original called for, so we have leftovers.  This was great warmed up the next day. 

Saucy Beef Noodle Skillet

Source: Kraft website

Ingredients

• 1 lb. extra lean ground beef
• 1 Green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 large onion, chopped (added)
  
• 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 cup Water
• 1/2 cup Italian Dressing
• 2 pkg. (3 oz. each) ramen noodle soup mix, beef flavor
• 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  

Preparation

• BROWN meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Stir in peppers, tomatoes, water and dressing.
• DISCARD or reserve flavor packets from soup mixes for another use. Add dry noodles to skillet. Bring to boil; cover. Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally.
• REMOVE from heat. Sprinkle with cheese.

Next Time- This didn't have much flavor, even though I added the onion. I wasn't that impressed with it and I'm not sure how to change it, so I probably just wouldn't make it again. I did like using the Ramen noodles, so I will look for other recipes that use them.

Cheesy Chicken & Salsa

Source: Kraft Website

Ingredients

• 2 cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked (used regular)
• 1 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1-1/4 cups Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
• 1 cup Frozen corn, thawed
• 1 large Green pepper, cut into short thin strips
• 1 cup Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese

Preparation

• COOK pasta as directed on package.
• MEANWHILE, heat large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 2 min. Stir in salsa, corn and peppers. Bring to boil. Simmer on medium-low heat 10 min. or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally.
• DRAIN pasta. Add to chicken mixture; mix lightly. Top with cheese. Remove from heat; cover. Let stand 1 min. or until cheese is melted.

Next Time- A quick easy recipe that tastes good. Nothing needs to be changed and I would make this again.

I'm a mommy!

After 16 1/2 hours of labor, Kaden Timothy came into the world at 10:02am on Tuesday June 22nd via c-section. He weighed 7lbs 15oz, and was 21 inches long. Of course I think he's freaking adorable, but I know I'm biased!

Here's my birth story for anyone that wants the details. More pics are below.

Monday morning I woke up just after 8am and had to pee. So I go, and after I stand up liquid starts rushing down my leg. It wasn't pee, so I assumed it was amniotic fluid. It wasn't a gush, just a trickle. I called my doctor's office, and they said to head to labor and delivery to be checked. My poor H had only gotten to bed at 7:30am, so he had about 45 minutes of sleep before he had to get up again.

We got to the hospital just after 9am. They hooked me up to the monitors to check for contractions and his heartbeat. I was having contractions but I could barely notice them, and they weren't consistent or time-able. I was 3cm, which was more than I had been at my previous week's checkup. They checked the fluid and it wasn't amniotic fluid, but they didn't have an explanation for what it was. After monitoring me for an hour, plus lots of extra waiting we finally got discharged around 1pm. We headed home so that H could get some more sleep.

Just after 5pm I started timing my contractions since they were starting to be painful. Using an online application I timed them for an hour, and they were around 5 minutes apart and about a minute long. So I called my doctor's office and left a message about my situation. After waiting a half hour for a call back and not getting one I called a 2nd time and left a more detailed message. After waiting a short time for a call back again, I decided to call labor and delivery to see what they said. Labor and delivery said that I could go ahead and come in to be checked, and they would get ahold of my doctor. Note- I never heard from my doctor's office that night, or even saw the doctor on call.

I woke H up around 7:30pm and told him what was going on. I had been timing my contractions for the last 2 hours, and they were staying about the same. And they were really painful in my lower back and top of my hips. He decided to shower and eat something, so we didn't get to the hospital till 9pm Monday night.

We went to triage where I had been monitored earlier that morning, and within 20 minutes they were admitting me. My contractions were more than they had been (obviously), plus I was now dilated to 4cm. I was surprised that they moved that quickly. H went to find a place he could get cell phone reception so he could call my mom and his parents. I had called my mom before we left home, just so she had a heads up that we were heading back to the hospital because of my contractions.

I was moved to an LDR room, which stands for Labor, Delivery and Recovery. So I would do everything in that room till 2 hours after delivery when I would be moved to a postpartum room. I would stay in that room till we checked out. Once in my room I had an IV to make sure I had plenty of fluids and I had to receive penicillin since I had tested positive during the GBS (Group B Strep) test. It can be a problem for baby, but penicillin takes care of it and baby will be fine. That crap burned going into the back of my hand.

I managed the contractions, mostly by walking around. At 12:30am my nurse De started me on pitocin since I wasn't making further progress. While this was going on we also had the TV on. We were watching a local news channel since we could see lightning flashes out the window. According to the news there was pretty severe weather headed our way. Then we hear the tornado siren go off. My nurse comes in and says that we have to go out into the hall until the tornado warning is over. So H carries the rocking chair out and we sit in the hall. We ended up having to stay out there until almost 2am. My mom and sister arrived during the tornado warning. Luckily they didn't have to drive in the pouring rain. They got to the hospital just as it was starting.

Back in my room my contractions were continuing to increase in pain, so I opted to get Stadol via my IV. The pain meds helped some, but by 4am I couldn't handle the back and hip pain so I decided to get the epidural. I seriously have a lot of respect for women that go medication free. Getting the epidural was the worst part of the whole night. I had tears running down my face and if I could have handled the contractions without the epidural I would have called it off. Once the epidural was in things improved greatly.

My nurse, De, kept upping the amount of pitocin I was receiving to try and get me to progress. She checked me at 5:15am and I was at 7cm. But while she was checking me my water broke, and I regressed to 6cm. And no matter how much pitocin she gave me, that didn't change.

At 7am the day nurse, Danielle, came on. She decided to start cutting back on the amount of pitocin to see if she could get my contractions to increase in intensity even if they decreased in the time between them. She also started changing the position I was in, since the baby's heart rate kept fluctuating every time I had a contraction. After almost 2 hours of messing with the pitocin and my position, Danielle called my doctor and she ordered a c-section.

Just before she came into the room to give me the news I told H "just knock me out and take the baby out." The epidural was wearing off, I was feeling pressure in my lower back and I was starting to feel the contractions again. I was so over labor, that I was ready for it to be over. Even if that meant a c-section.

The c-section went well. Kaden was completely healthy, and I'm recovering.

Taco Salad

Source: My family

This dish was always present at graduation parties, family reunions, birthday parties, etc. Easily made and definitely enjoyed by all. I decided to make this just because, not to take to any party or event.

Ingredients

• 1 lb hamburger
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• water
• head of lettuce
• 4 Roma tomatoes- any kind will work
• 1 yellow onion
• 8-16oz shredded cheese- Mexican, co-jack, etc.
• 1 bag Doritos Nacho Cheese Flavor
• 1 16oz bottle Catalina Dressing
• Other vegetables are optional- radishes, black olives, green peppers

Preparation

• Brown hamburger in skillet. Drain fat
• Add taco seasoning and water to hamburger. I cook until water has evaporated.
• Cool completely.
• Chop lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Add to large bowl.
• Add shredded cheese.
• Add cooled hamburger.
• Crush Doritos
• Add dressing and chips to bowl.
• Mix well.
• Serve chilled.

Note- if not eating all of the dish right away I recommend adding Doritos and dressing individually to personal plate. That way chips don't get soggy, and you can control the amount of dressing you want.

37 Weeks, Full Term!

I'm full term today!! Time certainly has flown.

I saw the doctor yesterday. I'll see her weekly until the baby is born. She did the Group B Strep test, which was no big deal. I'll probably find out the results next week. She also did an internal exam to see if I've progressed at all. For you moms-to-be- there was pressure and it was a bit uncomfortable but it didn't take her long to check. I also have had no spotting since then. She felt Baby Rebel's head (from the outside), and said he wasn't "engaged". Which I took to mean he hasn't dropped at all into the birth canal, considering how far up on my stomach she was feeling his head. She also said that I'm not dilated at all. I was kinda bummed about this since I was hoping for some progress at least. I am so over being pregnant. I'm so over it that I am ready for labor, and I am DREADING labor. That tells you how I'm doing. I'm just ready for the next step, and to have an outside baby.

Next week my appt is on Wednesday, which also happens to be my birthday so I'm really hoping for some progress by then!

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: I'm up about 4 lbs from 2 weeks ago. But since baby has probably gained about a 1lb since then, I'm really not worried about it.
How big is baby? From now till he's born he's considered the size of a watermelon. I don't want to think about having to push my little watermelon out!

Maternity clothes: Never needed them. I bought the Be Band from Target and I've used that.
Stretch marks: A few more of those red marks towards the top of my stomach.
Sleep: Awful. Moving is painful in my lower back and pelvis, but not moving isn't an option. Getting up to pee every 2 hours or so has become the norm.
Movement: He doesn't kick so much as just push. He's head down so all of his movement is towards the top of my stomach. He's gotten the hiccups quite a few times now. He's been much more active the last couple of days. But if he wants more space he needs to come out!
Food cravings: Nothing really. I eat a lot less than I did pre-pregnancy.
Food aversions: Nothing specific
Belly button: Still shallow, no popping.
What I'm looking forward to: This pregnancy to be over. I'm so sick of the pain and aches that I'm looking forward to labor. Just cuz I know there is an end to labor and a baby in my arms!
Weekly joy: Knowing that I'm full term, and there is almost a light at the end of my pregnancy tunnel!