Baby Boo #3 at 30 Weeks/6 Days

I'm 32 weeks today, but last week I saw another 3d/4d image of my sweet baby. I'm so happy to have met this goal. My next goal is to get to January, and eventually get through January.

Sebastian is 20 Months today!

Sebastian is 20 months today, I'm 30 weeks/2 days pregnant, and Cedric is getting better with potty training. I'm still on bed rest, but I can sit at the computer and go for drives. That keeps me sane. I'm so happy that I have 10 more weeks to go. I can't believe it has already been 6 weeks, since all this craziness has begun. I have an ultrasound and a prenatal appointment on Wednesday, Dec. 15th. I should learn more of what my body is doing. Hopefully, my cervix is still closed and long. I also hope my fluids are still good, and the baby is growing nicely. Now if I can just get this baby to go head down then all will be good.

Cedric is continuing to do well with potty training. He's a late bloomer! He goes pee without much problems, but sometimes he needs to be reminded. Of course, poop is another story. We're still working on that one. Once he gets that down then he will graduate to underwear instead of having to wear pull-ups.

Sebastian is 20 months today. He's doing well at day care, and he seems to be coming out of his shell more and more. He definitely likes to talk their ears off there. He sometimes still gets sad when daddy drops him off, but he likes his teachers so that helps. I can't believe in a couple of months we'll become a family of five, and I'll have three little faces to adore and kiss upon. Also in two weeks, it will be Christmas, and I'm looking forward to Cedric, Sebastian, and John seeing their presents.

It's that season, again!

Cedric and Sebastian playing by the Christmas tree. We still need to do a family picture.

I'm also only a couple days away from being 30 weeks along. I'm happy to be very close to the 30 week marker. Now if I can just keep the weeks going, so I'm full term or close to it.

Stuck in the hospital and feeling bored.

If this baby is a girl, this is one name possibility. Melody is the definite first name, but John still needs more convincing on the middle name. I really like it. I like the meaning of Evangeline, and I like the song from Princess and the Frog. I think he will go for it. By the way, Evangeline means messenger of good news, and Melody means song. I definitely love music, and I could use some good news.

I didn't make a boy one, because John and I are absolutely stumped for a boy's name. I don't even know where to start. I guess if this is a third boy, it might just be seeing him first before deciding.

Sebastian is 19 Months Old & I'm 26 Weeks Today!

Sebastian is 19 months today! He is getting so big! Sebastian started going to daycare on Monday for a few months while mommy needs to be on bed rest, and daddy needs to keep working. It's sad that he has to go to daycare, but he seems to be adjusting. It will be good for him to have the extra attention that he wouldn't get enough of at home due to the current circumstances. His teachers are amazed at how much he talks, and they think he's cute. It's the cheeks! :-)

Cedric and Sebastian are enjoying the first snowfall of the season. They like looking at the snow. Cedric was a little disappointed that it wasn't enough snow to build a snowman. All in good time my little guy.

I'm 26 weeks today, and I'm feeling much better that this baby is going to go the rest of the pregnancy. I have a doctor's appointment this Wednesday, the 17th, so I'll have a better idea what it going on with the placenta. I haven't had any bleeding or spotting since I left the hospital, and I'm feeling very good about that. I still take the medicine to keep the contractions away, and I'm at bed rest at home. It's not total strict bed rest. I can go on drives as a passenger, and I can eat with the family. I really just need to take it easy and not lift anything over 10 lbs. Sorry babies! I'm looking forward to seeing this baby again on an ultrasound this coming Wednesday, and hoping to have better news about what is going on inside. Keep hanging in there, baby!

25 Weeks Today

Bleeding is getting so much better. I pretty much have nothing to speak of, so it's nice to see this going in the right direction. I have a 3d/4d image of the baby that looks so cool. I definitely see a resemblance to Cedric & Sebastian. I think this baby has Cedric sized cheeks, though. I've been told that if I continue to have no big bleeds, than I can go home on Sunday. I really hope I can. I miss being around my family. I still need to be on bed rest, but at least it will be in the comfort of my own home.

Something John and I thought we would never do, we have no choice to do now. Sebastian will be going to a daycare for the time being, since John needs to keep working. It's too hard to work and managed two children at the same time. Cedric does preschool in the afternoon Tuesday through Friday, so that will keep him busy. It's sad that my baby will be going to daycare, but he needs attention. Right now, I can't give that to him, because of my situation. It will be fine, and it's only temporary. He might actually enjoy being around other kids his own age all day.

I'm continuing to keep my eye on the prize, and each day the baby stays inside is a victory. :-)

Scary Times!

This pregnancy has definitely become stressful and scary. On Wednesday, the 27th I started experiencing some bleeding after going three weeks with no spotting. They had me go to labor and delivery, so they could monitor the baby and do an ultrasound. They couldn't see where the bleeding was coming from, I was having no contractions, and my cervix was closed. The doctor recommended having a steroid shot and staying through the night for monitoring, but John and I felt that was too much. The midwife was okay with us leaving and not getting the shot, since everything looked okay.

Fast forward to Friday, the 29th, and a whole different story occurs. John, Sebastian, Cedric, and I went to Cedric's preschool for his Halloween party. As soon as I started getting out of the car, I could feel myself bleeding. When I went to the bathroom, I had already soaked the panyliner I was wearing. I called the midwife, and they told me to go to labor and delivery again. This time on the ultrasound they could see where the bleeding was coming from. I had a tear in my placenta, and the doctor told me that this pregnancy could bevin serious jeopardy. I started crying upon hearing this. I was to stay on hospital bed rest for 48 hours, and receive the steroid shot. They gave me one that Friday, and they give me another one 24 hours later. It's precautionary in case the baby does come early, it will have a better chance of survival if it gets that head start maturity on it's lungs. Bleeding slowly improved, and by Sunday, the 31st I was only spotting mostly brown color.

John and I went home around noon, and I was instructed to be on strict bed rest at home. I was bummed I didn't get to see the boys going door to door for trick or treating, but I at least got to see them in their costumes as they were leaving. I stayed in the bed and watched television. John and the boys gor back close to 8pm, and we were all going to sit in bed and watch "How to Train Your Dragon". I moved a little bit, and I could feel the blood coming out again. Went to the bathroom, and I wanted to cry. I needed to go back to the hospital. No ultrasound this time, but lots of monitoring. Started having contractions coming every two minutes. They gave me medicine to stop that, and so far they have stopped completely.

My current prognosis is to be in the hospital on bed rest for at least 7 days. Most likely a little longer than that. The doctor wants me to have no spotting even brown for 7 days straight before releasing me to bed rest at home. It sucks, but if we can avoid the baby going to the NICU, that would be most ideal. I'm scared at the financial cost of all of this, since health insurance in this country sucks.

Anyway, stay in there baby! I want to hold you when you're born, and I want you to come home with us right away. Only 3 more months to go, so please hang in there.

Latest Ultrasound Picture

Yesterday was kind of a scary day. After three weeks of having no spotting, I thought I was in the clear. Yesterday after I went to the bathroom there was blood. Not a lot but enough to have me concerned. I called the midwife, and they told me to go to Labor and Delivery to be monitored and possible receive a steroid shot for the baby's lungs. That wasn't what I was expecting to hear. I went to the hospital, and my mom followed since I was going to need to have someone pick Cedric up from preschool. I also called John to let him know what was going on, and he met me at the hospital. They monitored the baby, and did an ultrasound. Everything looked fine with me and the baby, and I wasn't have contractions. They don't know what was causing the bleeding. Hang in there, baby. You still have 16 weeks to go. This pregnancy has been stressful. I just want a healthy baby to hold, and that everything works out to be okay.

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream.....

Last night I had a dream that the baby was a girl. I was holding a little baby that looked like Cedric when he was a baby, but the baby was wearing a pink hat. I called her Melody, which will be her name if it's a her. I remember calling John on the phone to tell him we had a girl, and he responded like he already knew. I'm not sure why he wasn't with me. I had a feeling in the dream that the baby was early, but not too early. In the dream the nurse told me the baby weighed 6 lbs. 9 oz., which would be very nice since Sebastian was 3 lbs. more than that. The dream felt so real, and I remember falling instantly in love with the baby I saw in my dreams. I'm hoping it's true that it's a girl, but I would of course be happy if it's a boy, too.

Sebastian turned 18 months on the 11th

Sebastian turned 18 months on Monday, the 11th. He is getting so big. His vocabulary has exploded, and he is constantly talking. He loves to say, airplane, hi, bye, and many, many more. He has officially weaned as well. The last time he had breast milk was on Monday, September 27th. He was pretty much down to only nursing once or twice during the day. I was amazed at how quickly it was to wean him. Cedric took a lot longer. Sebastian has his 18 month appointment on the 25th, so I'll know what his stats are then.

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Ultrasound Pictures from a Week Ago

Here is Baby Boo #3 at 18 weeks and 1 day. Baby is looking great! We have decided to go Team Green on this pregnancy, so we won't know who this little person is until she/he is born.

Sebastian and Cedric wearing their big brother shirts with pride. Every time I ask Cedric if the baby is a baby sister or baby brother he says sister. Same holds true if I ask him if it's a boy or girl. He says girl every time. Perhaps, he knows something that I don't know. I feel girl with this pregnancy, but I don't want to get my hopes up.

Here's the baby yawning.

The baby's arm in a flex position.

Here's the whole baby curled up. I went in a little early for my anatomy scan, because I have been continuing to have bleeding and spotting. It looks like I will be having this baby with a midwife at Swedish Hospital inside of with a midwife at a birthing center. I'm pretty bummed about it, because I really wanted to have an experience of the birthing center this time around. However, I want the baby and I to be safe, too. If the midwives at the birthing center think this is the best scenario, than I'm okay with that. There goes my water birth. :-(

Sebastian is 17 months

Sebastian was 17 months on Saturday, and he is getting so big. He is really only nursing about once sometimes twice a day. He is also sleeping through the night, which is so nice. Of course, that will all change for me again in about 5 months when the new baby is here.

Sebastian is counting and saying more and more words. He likes to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and Itsy, Bitsy Spider. He also knows the word hi when he sees it. It still is unclear if he knows the word eyes, but he is getting close. Sebastian eats a lot, too. He loves food, and always seems to be the only kid who is still sitting finishing his food. He doesn't like milk, and I'm not sure what to do about that. I guess he'll eventually like it, but we shall see. He loves water, so that is good. He hasn't had juice yet, and I'm trying to keep him from that for awhile. The only fruit he seems to like is bananas, but I know one day he will eventually like some others.

Cedric is 3 1/2 years old, and he loves going to preschool at Jefferson County Open School. He is doing great, and he seems very happy.

Sebastian and Cedric are getting so big, and I can't wait til this third baby is here to see my complete family together. John and I will be going to have our 20 week ultrasound on September 30th. We are Team Green, so we won't be finding out the gender, but we will get to see our newest Baby Boo. I'm also hoping my Subchorionic Hemorrhage is gone or close to gone by that ultrasound. I'm tired of this spotting and occasional bleeding I've been having with this pregnancy. I just want a healthy baby, that is doing fine in my uterus despite the interference. I'll be posting ultrasound pictures in a couple of weeks. I can't wait.

Finally Made My Big Announcement...I'm Pregnant!

I had my 12 week ultrasound today for my first trimester screening. The baby looks great, and I will find out the blood test results next week. I'm so excited to be having our third baby. This baby will complete our family, and I can't wait to meet her or him in February. Here's a picture of my children all together. My sweet babies!

Here's a closer picture of the baby. Looking at us and telling us hello. :-)

My Birthday!

Sebastian and Cedric holding the presents I got from them and their daddy. The bear is Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear from Toy Story 3, and an iPhone 4. My birthday was on Thursday, July 29th, and I'm 38 years old. I can't believe I'm only 2 years away from the big 4-0. Next years birthday will also be very exciting, but I can't get into those details right now. Anyway, my mom took me and the boys to lunch at the Egg and I. Later in the evening for dinner, I went to Cinzzetti's with John, Cedric, Sebastian, and our friends, Colleen, Bella, and Sean. Afterwards, we had cake that John made. It was a fun day!

John, Cedric, Sebastian, and I celebrating my birthday together.

John with Sebastian, Cedric, and our friend Bella leaving the restaurant.

Just a reminder why he was the worst modern president

George W. Bush:
accomplishments as president- I wouldn't call them accomplishments !



* Attacked and took over two countries.

* Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.

* Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.

* Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.

* Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.

* First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.

* First president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.

* First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.

* After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in US history.

* Set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips than any other president in US history.

* In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.

*Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.

* Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12 month period.

* Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.

* Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.

* Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in US history.

* Presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.

* Presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.

* Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.

* Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind.

* Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.

* My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.

* Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the 'poorest' multi-millionaire, Condoleeza Rice has an Exxon oil tanker named after her).

* First president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.

* Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.

* First president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.

* Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.

* Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.

* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.

* First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.

* Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.

* Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.

* Withdrew from the World Court of Law.

* Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.

* First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).

* All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.

* My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).

* Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.

* First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.

* First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)

* First US president to establish a secret shadow government.

* Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).

* With a policy of 'dis-engagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.

* First US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

* First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.

* Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

* Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.

* Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.

* Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capital building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.

* In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.

* Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.

* In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.

* Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.

Sebastian was 15 months Old A Week Ago

I've been busy, so I forgot to post about Sebastian turning 15 months last Sunday. He has four molars coming in at once, and he isn't too happy about it. He went in for his 15 month appointment on Tuesday, the 13th. His height was 30 1/2 inches, and he is in the 30th percentile. His weight was 20 lbs. 9 oz. and he was in the 5th percentile. They were concerned about his weight, since he has only gained half a pound since his 6th month appointment. Of course, Cedric weight dropping significantly, too. It's frustrating! He had to have blood taken on Friday, and they needed urine. That involved using a catheter. My poor baby just can't catch a break. I was cursing the doctor's name in my head. I'll find out the results on Monday, and I know they will come back that everything is fine.

Sebastian is talking more, too. He's getting very good at eating solids now as well. We are still working on drinking milk. He claps his hands a lot, and he says hi among many other things. He's very cute! He's also interacting a lot more with Cedric. Sometimes Cedric still gets a little too rough, but Sebastian is getting stronger.

Over the Rainbow Bridge

Harmony died on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at around 5:20pm in the late afternoon. She was almost 12 1/2 years old. She had been acting very sick over the last few days, and although she felt like she had lost a lot of weight her belly was very bloated and tight. I took her into the vet around 10:45am on Thursday, and the vet called me back within ten minutes to tell me she was very sick. They tried to take blood, but she was so dehydrated that they needed to give her fluids first. Around 2pm, I got a call back from the vet telling me that her kidneys were shutting down, and she was in kidney failure. They said they could try to help her, but I didn't want her to suffer anymore. Plus there was no guarantee that any aggressive treatment was going to save her. I told them I would be back around 5pm with my husband and children. I wanted Cedric and Sebastian to say goodbye. Cedric said, "Goodbye Harmony, I love you." He's such a sweet boy. Plus earlier in the morning he put a blanket on Harmony when she was sleeping on the couch. I don't think he knows what happened, and I know Sebastian definitely has no idea what was going on. John stayed in the room with me when they put Harmony to sleep. It was very sad to say goodbye to my sweet baby. I can't believe she is gone. The house feels empty now with both of the cats gone.

Goodbye Harmony, I love you and will miss you always. Now you and Melody can be together again.

Baby Harmony
January 24, 1998 - July 1, 2010

Sebastian being cute with Harmony.

My Minion

Sebastian was 14 months yesterday!

My little guy is getting so big looking. He is looking less and less like a baby as his little body thins out more and more. Here he is showing off his five teeth. He has another tooth coming in on the top on the other side of his front teeth, but it's barely peeking through.

Taking a picture with his buddy Bert. We bought this when we went to FAO Schwarz in NY.

Here was Sebastian yesterday at a pool party when he was actually 14 months old.

Sebastian playing with Harmony. She has been hanging around upstairs all the time now. She's less afraid of the kids, and she's been more active. We are doing great as a one cat family.

Sebastian demonstrating his new found skill. He is practicing going down the stairs like a big boy. It makes mommy and daddy a little nervous, but so far he has had only one spill.

Another angle of him going down the stairs. I'm okay with him doing this going down this set of stairs, because there is only a few. It's the bigger set of stairs I want him to keep going down backwards.

Brothers! Sebastian is getting more vocal. He says, "Ish" a lot. Not sure what it's suppose to mean, but it's so cute when he does it. He says "mama" and "dada" like a champ, and he says "hi" at times as well. He also says "oh". He was such a little chatter box in NY, but I wasn't sure what he was saying. It's only a matter of time when he becomes easier to understand. He knows what he is saying, we just need to catch up.

Funny Joke....Love it!

You must be a Democrat.

A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him,
"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above ground elevation of 2,346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude.
"She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be an Obama Democrat."
"I am," replied the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct. But I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."
The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Republican."
"I am," replied the balloonist. "How did you know?"
"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but somehow, now it's my fault."
Source: The Canadian Connection

Just another day....

Going Home

John, Cedric, Sebastian, and I went to Jones Beach during our travels to NY. We went on Tuesday, May 25, 2010. I've been wanted to go to Jones Beach for a long time, and I was happy to finally get to go. I also wanted to go to send some of Michael's ashes back out to sea.

Here is Kevin, Michael, and Chris playing in the sand at the beach. I'm not sure if they are at Jones Beach here or not, but it was such a huge part of our childhoods I'm sure it was.

Me with my brothers and my dad at the beach.

Our family boat that we would take to different places around Jones Beach. Zack's Bay was one of our favorite places to visit. It's all part of Jones Beach.

Andy and I by the shore.

Me sending Michael's ashes back out to sea. I couldn't get all the ashes out of the jar, so I mixed those ashes with sand and a couple of seashells from Jones Beach. I put the bottle back in my hutch back at home.

Here's me returning from reuniting Michael with the ocean.

Me with my two sweeties, Sebastian and Cedric. I'm happy to introduce my boys to a huge part of my childhood. They both loved the beach and splashing in the waves.

My family...a new generation to enjoy Jones Beach.

My Grandma Died!

Here is a picture of my grandma holding me. It has been a long time, since I've seen my grandma. I was thinking the last time I saw I was 12 years old, but I forgot I did see her when I was almost 17 years old. My mom and I took a trip to NY, and we stop by to say hi at some point during our trip. I didn't see her or have any contact with her after that. My mom and grandma never got along and my mom sent my grandma a letter asking her to apologize for the way my grandma treated her as a child. My grandma never apologized, and the connection was broken after that.

I had recently reconnected with my Uncle Teddy and Aunt Peggy when my grandma was having complications about a month ago. It was good to talk to them again. It had been way too long. My Uncle Teddy called me a couple of weeks ago to give me my grandma's phone number. I wish now that I had called before she died. I know she probably wouldn't have known who I was, since she was suffering from dementia....still I feel bad about it. I kept thinking about her during our trip to NY. I kept feeling like I should at least call, but I never did. She died yesterday, June 1, 2010 in the afternoon. She was 92 years old. Goodbye grandma, I'm sorry I didn't get to say it to you at least on the phone if not in person. Say hi to Michael for me, and I hope you both reconnect on the otherside.

Michael as a baby with our grandma.