I forgot to mention that I passed the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. I refer to it as the glucose challenge as it was all I could do not to throw up for over an hour.
The baby was rattling around inside me the whole time. I kept imagining him saying to me, "Mama! What the hell is going on? I don't like this. Never eat sugar again. Ever!"
I don't wish it on anyone. My advice to any pregnant woman going for the one-hour test is:
Schedule it for first thing in the morning
Fast all night/morning
Don't eat any sugar NOR carbs the night before
Pray to your preferred diety that you pass.
If you can't get a first appointment, still avoid carbs and sugar. Carbs turn into sugar and, honestly, unless you really have gestational diabetes, you do NOT want to do the 3 hour test.
Gratefully my parents could babysit that morning. As they had a nice lunch waiting for me upon my return. I had responsibly brought a sandwich. But I didn't want to eat or drink much for a few hours afterwards. I did but not much.
You feel very rough indeed.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Potty training and more talking
So, well, potty training continues. It's expectedly hit or miss. We're getting more action on the poop front as I get SOME advanced warning when I hear, "Mommy, tummy hurts."
Peeing, I've noticed she's able to sit down for a while, ocassionally pee in the potty, but is mostly now holding it. So her post-nap and post-bedtime diapers are FULL. When before they were dry. She will even not pee in the potty and then when we put on a diaper to go outside, she'll pee then.
I hear this is pretty common, so we're just moving along. I'm still having to gently cajole her to sit on the potty at regular times. And when we're staying at home in the afternoon, she gets "nudie time", whereby she only has on underwear and gets to run around without clothes. She likes this a lot. Although it doesn't encourage her to tell me she has to go. She might hold it all or just go in the undies.
Honestly, she's never been a baby or kid to complain about a wet or soiled diaper. UNLESS it was stinging her skin. Otherwise she could wait. So, alerting me isn't forthcoming.
It'll take more time and I'm sure she will work it out one day when she is ready. Hopefully that is before she starts mornings-only during the weekdays at school this fall.
A few funnier things she's said recently:
1. I can't like that. (For anything she doesn't want to eat.)
2. Who deez people eatin my fruit rope? (When my dad tried a tiny piece of her fruit rope before I gave it to her.)
3. Not cool! (Anytime she doesn't like or doesn't want to wear something. As in, this barrette is not cool. Or those shoes you are wearing mommy are not cool.)
4. My eyes are crying or I have crying eyes. (Often told to me when I've accused her of whining. She will tell me it's not whining but crying, so I should take it more seriously.)
5. What (s)he doin? (An all-time favorite about anyone on the street, in a book or seen within eye shot.)
6. No, da baby in heeah. (Accompanied by her pointing at my belly when asked if she is going to have a brother or sister. Often followed by a big hug to the belly and telling it "I love you baby.")
Peeing, I've noticed she's able to sit down for a while, ocassionally pee in the potty, but is mostly now holding it. So her post-nap and post-bedtime diapers are FULL. When before they were dry. She will even not pee in the potty and then when we put on a diaper to go outside, she'll pee then.
I hear this is pretty common, so we're just moving along. I'm still having to gently cajole her to sit on the potty at regular times. And when we're staying at home in the afternoon, she gets "nudie time", whereby she only has on underwear and gets to run around without clothes. She likes this a lot. Although it doesn't encourage her to tell me she has to go. She might hold it all or just go in the undies.
Honestly, she's never been a baby or kid to complain about a wet or soiled diaper. UNLESS it was stinging her skin. Otherwise she could wait. So, alerting me isn't forthcoming.
It'll take more time and I'm sure she will work it out one day when she is ready. Hopefully that is before she starts mornings-only during the weekdays at school this fall.
A few funnier things she's said recently:
1. I can't like that. (For anything she doesn't want to eat.)
2. Who deez people eatin my fruit rope? (When my dad tried a tiny piece of her fruit rope before I gave it to her.)
3. Not cool! (Anytime she doesn't like or doesn't want to wear something. As in, this barrette is not cool. Or those shoes you are wearing mommy are not cool.)
4. My eyes are crying or I have crying eyes. (Often told to me when I've accused her of whining. She will tell me it's not whining but crying, so I should take it more seriously.)
5. What (s)he doin? (An all-time favorite about anyone on the street, in a book or seen within eye shot.)
6. No, da baby in heeah. (Accompanied by her pointing at my belly when asked if she is going to have a brother or sister. Often followed by a big hug to the belly and telling it "I love you baby.")
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Potty training, glucose tests and naps
We have gotten more serious about potty training. And by "we", I mean me, and by "serious", I mean that we spend a lot more time in the bathroom even though there is virtually no pee going into the potty.
I noticed on last Year's calendar that she was actually pering in the potty last July. I knew she wasn't ready but I could have pushed it. I wish now I had. She's still apprehensive about the potty. Being "nudie" isn't a problem. It's letting the pee actually go into the pot. And now I INSIST she is at least in the bathroom when she says her tummy hurts since I know a poop is coming. I don't force her to take off her diaper for that since she's too anxious and will just cry and fight me. It's not worth the struggle and stress.
We sit on it in the morning, before nap, after nap, and before bathtime. I should do it more often but nothing is happening and we can easily be in there for 20+ minutes. Totally boring. Even reading her a book or the comics. I end up peeing more than usual just because we are in there. And as my back has been killing me, hanging out in the bathroom is not fun for me. So if we are in there for 10 minutes, I call it quits and back on the diaper.
If we aren't going outside, I've started to let her wear the training undies. She doesn't like them so if that doesn't work, nudie it is!
I know pee will happen.
Last night she told me she had to go while watching Super Why on PBS. I said Let's go to the potty. Then she said, "No mommy not yet." and for some reason I took her seriously. What she meant was, "I'm busy watching tv and I'll just pee here in the undies on my chair." which is exactly what she did.
I learned MY lesson and the tv gets put on pause and turned off, and we go to the bathroom right away.
I have to say, being in light to moderate pain all the time makes me far less ambitious than I normally am. I realized I'm walking differently and holding my butt too tightly. So I think that has a lot to do with the pain. I'm really waddling more than walking to compensate. Not good.
And I "barely" failed the 1-hr glucose tolerance test last week. So now I have to go tomorrow morning, after another full night of fasting, for the 3-hr test. Basically, after dinner tonight at about 8.30, I won't eat or drink anything (except the glucose drink) until about 11am tomorrow. Holy Christmas, I'm going to be shaking, and fall asleep from the lack of eating.
I'm eating more protein and less carbs than usual tonight. Honestly, I can't believe I failed it. And if I fail this one, I will absolutely cry out of sheer frustration.
Naptime has become different again. Many days, she will take her nap like usual. But there are increasing days where she's in there talking to herself or singing for over an hour. I don't allow the talking and singing but the babysitters were. So we had a chat. What's interesting is that she's tired and clearly needs a nap. But what she is really after is more time with me hugging her while she lays down and singing quiet lullabies.
I guess the regression is in part because of my pregnancy and also she is getting older so naps will eventually fade. But not now. She's not really capable of going without a nap and being normal all day. If no nap happens, she basically loses her mind about 5pm.
I've been getting really frustrated with her this week. My god she can talk endlessly. I now understand more and more what my mom went through with me. Just a couple of anxious Chatty Kathies. Whew. It's exhausting.
I noticed on last Year's calendar that she was actually pering in the potty last July. I knew she wasn't ready but I could have pushed it. I wish now I had. She's still apprehensive about the potty. Being "nudie" isn't a problem. It's letting the pee actually go into the pot. And now I INSIST she is at least in the bathroom when she says her tummy hurts since I know a poop is coming. I don't force her to take off her diaper for that since she's too anxious and will just cry and fight me. It's not worth the struggle and stress.
We sit on it in the morning, before nap, after nap, and before bathtime. I should do it more often but nothing is happening and we can easily be in there for 20+ minutes. Totally boring. Even reading her a book or the comics. I end up peeing more than usual just because we are in there. And as my back has been killing me, hanging out in the bathroom is not fun for me. So if we are in there for 10 minutes, I call it quits and back on the diaper.
If we aren't going outside, I've started to let her wear the training undies. She doesn't like them so if that doesn't work, nudie it is!
I know pee will happen.
Last night she told me she had to go while watching Super Why on PBS. I said Let's go to the potty. Then she said, "No mommy not yet." and for some reason I took her seriously. What she meant was, "I'm busy watching tv and I'll just pee here in the undies on my chair." which is exactly what she did.
I learned MY lesson and the tv gets put on pause and turned off, and we go to the bathroom right away.
I have to say, being in light to moderate pain all the time makes me far less ambitious than I normally am. I realized I'm walking differently and holding my butt too tightly. So I think that has a lot to do with the pain. I'm really waddling more than walking to compensate. Not good.
And I "barely" failed the 1-hr glucose tolerance test last week. So now I have to go tomorrow morning, after another full night of fasting, for the 3-hr test. Basically, after dinner tonight at about 8.30, I won't eat or drink anything (except the glucose drink) until about 11am tomorrow. Holy Christmas, I'm going to be shaking, and fall asleep from the lack of eating.
I'm eating more protein and less carbs than usual tonight. Honestly, I can't believe I failed it. And if I fail this one, I will absolutely cry out of sheer frustration.
Naptime has become different again. Many days, she will take her nap like usual. But there are increasing days where she's in there talking to herself or singing for over an hour. I don't allow the talking and singing but the babysitters were. So we had a chat. What's interesting is that she's tired and clearly needs a nap. But what she is really after is more time with me hugging her while she lays down and singing quiet lullabies.
I guess the regression is in part because of my pregnancy and also she is getting older so naps will eventually fade. But not now. She's not really capable of going without a nap and being normal all day. If no nap happens, she basically loses her mind about 5pm.
I've been getting really frustrated with her this week. My god she can talk endlessly. I now understand more and more what my mom went through with me. Just a couple of anxious Chatty Kathies. Whew. It's exhausting.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Got us a big-girl bed, but is my toddler a "big girl"?
The short answer is "yes". We waited, and I'm glad we did. She is as ready as she was going to be for a big bed.
We ended up having someone come to take the old double bed out and deliver the new bed, and that same night we dismantled the crib. So the entire coming and going happened in one day.
As expected, Carolina was very excited about the bed and her new sheets (pink!) and blanket (extra soft organic!) and also VERY apprehensive.
The first night I had to stay in the room with her for about 30 minutes until she calmed down enough, and stopped crying long enough, to relax and start to want to go to sleep. She cried out at about midnight and her papa went in there to rub her back for a bit. She woke up, very anxious, at 6.30 and wanted to basically jump off the bed to be with me when I walked in.
She was clearly tired, and ready for a nap at about 11.30am that morning. HOWEVER, she was still a little nervous about sleeping in the big bed by herself. So I stayed for about 10 minutes and then left to take my nap in my bedroom.
She woke up after only about an hour and 20 minutes. She was yawning about 30 minutes after she got up and was READY for sleep later that night.
All this short sleeping caught up with her as last night, we read 3 or 4 books (usually we read 2) and I stayed with her for about 10 minutes as she had a momentary panic just as I turned off the light and she realized it really was time for bed. I held her for a bit until she stopped crying, then hummed to her for about 10 minutes and she was out like a light.
She didn't wake up until a quarter to 7 this morning, and went down for her nap without problems.
I expect she will get a bit nervous just at lights-out moment again tonight but I think the worst is over.
Just like traveling, Carolina needs about 3 days to adjust and then she's good to go.
Honestly, this is a lot faster than I expected. I was going to give her a week of anxiety, but it seems that as long as we reinforce that her bed is comfortable and nice and her babies in there with her, AND remind her that she is still in her own room, she seems to be okay with it.
I had thought we'd need to start playing dolls in her room every day to get her accustomed to being in there but since it's still her room, I guess we didn't need to. And, I thought she'd mind the bed rail but she seems to actually like that it's there.
Also, I told her that the Warning information in English, French and Spanish (on the inside part of the bedrail mesh) is actually a letter to her saying that her bed is nice and the mesh is there to keep her safe. She then asked if the monsters could get in (this is a new thing). I explained like I always do, "No, we keep the front door locked so they can't get in." She then asked if I'd lock her door, and I told her, "I'll keep it closed like always and the front door locked. So they can't get in AT ALL." She seemed to like the "at all" part and always seems to believe me that if we lock the door, they can't get in.
I have no idea where the monsters coming in came from, but it seems that if I am factual about it and don't bring it up, she isn't too worried. Maybe that can change later.
All we need now is a new step stool so she can get into the bed herself. I got a shorter box spring than normal but it's still a bit high and the metal frame is too pointy to use as a step. I even tried it and it hurt my food. We're using a full diaper box now, and another mom in the neighborhood said I could have hers if I pick it up tomorrow, which I will.
Hooray!
PS And you know the head banging on the mattress or moaning hasn't happened since we switched to the bed. I had hoped this might happen as she did a LOT less of it when we changed her crib padding in August. She might be too nervous to bother but I'm very (fingers tightly crossed) hopeful this might be the end of it.
We ended up having someone come to take the old double bed out and deliver the new bed, and that same night we dismantled the crib. So the entire coming and going happened in one day.
As expected, Carolina was very excited about the bed and her new sheets (pink!) and blanket (extra soft organic!) and also VERY apprehensive.
The first night I had to stay in the room with her for about 30 minutes until she calmed down enough, and stopped crying long enough, to relax and start to want to go to sleep. She cried out at about midnight and her papa went in there to rub her back for a bit. She woke up, very anxious, at 6.30 and wanted to basically jump off the bed to be with me when I walked in.
She was clearly tired, and ready for a nap at about 11.30am that morning. HOWEVER, she was still a little nervous about sleeping in the big bed by herself. So I stayed for about 10 minutes and then left to take my nap in my bedroom.
She woke up after only about an hour and 20 minutes. She was yawning about 30 minutes after she got up and was READY for sleep later that night.
All this short sleeping caught up with her as last night, we read 3 or 4 books (usually we read 2) and I stayed with her for about 10 minutes as she had a momentary panic just as I turned off the light and she realized it really was time for bed. I held her for a bit until she stopped crying, then hummed to her for about 10 minutes and she was out like a light.
She didn't wake up until a quarter to 7 this morning, and went down for her nap without problems.
I expect she will get a bit nervous just at lights-out moment again tonight but I think the worst is over.
Just like traveling, Carolina needs about 3 days to adjust and then she's good to go.
Honestly, this is a lot faster than I expected. I was going to give her a week of anxiety, but it seems that as long as we reinforce that her bed is comfortable and nice and her babies in there with her, AND remind her that she is still in her own room, she seems to be okay with it.
I had thought we'd need to start playing dolls in her room every day to get her accustomed to being in there but since it's still her room, I guess we didn't need to. And, I thought she'd mind the bed rail but she seems to actually like that it's there.
Also, I told her that the Warning information in English, French and Spanish (on the inside part of the bedrail mesh) is actually a letter to her saying that her bed is nice and the mesh is there to keep her safe. She then asked if the monsters could get in (this is a new thing). I explained like I always do, "No, we keep the front door locked so they can't get in." She then asked if I'd lock her door, and I told her, "I'll keep it closed like always and the front door locked. So they can't get in AT ALL." She seemed to like the "at all" part and always seems to believe me that if we lock the door, they can't get in.
I have no idea where the monsters coming in came from, but it seems that if I am factual about it and don't bring it up, she isn't too worried. Maybe that can change later.
All we need now is a new step stool so she can get into the bed herself. I got a shorter box spring than normal but it's still a bit high and the metal frame is too pointy to use as a step. I even tried it and it hurt my food. We're using a full diaper box now, and another mom in the neighborhood said I could have hers if I pick it up tomorrow, which I will.
Hooray!
PS And you know the head banging on the mattress or moaning hasn't happened since we switched to the bed. I had hoped this might happen as she did a LOT less of it when we changed her crib padding in August. She might be too nervous to bother but I'm very (fingers tightly crossed) hopeful this might be the end of it.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
If you're taking a toddler to a restaurant, be prepared. Even if you've done it before.
So we went to brunch with the McConnell's and I forgot three things:
1. A book
2. Crayons or pencil and some paper
3. To set up expectations with Carolina about behavior and what will happen before we left
She wasn't very well behaved at all. She wasn't really jealous, in fact she loved seeing the baby, but she was all over the place and whiny and didn't eat much of anything.
Granted, we weren't making her the center of attention, so that's to be expected. But in my usual small diaper bag I forgot to put back a book and something to draw with after I cleaned out the bag last month AND forgot to have "the talk" before we left the apartment.
Really, I should have known better, and I do, but I forgot. It wasn't the end of the world awful but, let's just say that it was really good there were only two other people in the restaurant, sitting far from us, who were tolerant of the occasional crying/screaming by our toddler.
How I get her to eat something normal (instead of only ice cream) while we are at a restaurant or at someone else's house, I'm not sure yet. I'll just keep trying. And maybe eventually it'll stick, but for right now, I just gotta go more prepared.
Silly, mommy.
1. A book
2. Crayons or pencil and some paper
3. To set up expectations with Carolina about behavior and what will happen before we left
She wasn't very well behaved at all. She wasn't really jealous, in fact she loved seeing the baby, but she was all over the place and whiny and didn't eat much of anything.
Granted, we weren't making her the center of attention, so that's to be expected. But in my usual small diaper bag I forgot to put back a book and something to draw with after I cleaned out the bag last month AND forgot to have "the talk" before we left the apartment.
Really, I should have known better, and I do, but I forgot. It wasn't the end of the world awful but, let's just say that it was really good there were only two other people in the restaurant, sitting far from us, who were tolerant of the occasional crying/screaming by our toddler.
How I get her to eat something normal (instead of only ice cream) while we are at a restaurant or at someone else's house, I'm not sure yet. I'll just keep trying. And maybe eventually it'll stick, but for right now, I just gotta go more prepared.
Silly, mommy.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
First snow -- hooray!
Carolina woke up this morning and basically told this to her papa in one breath, after he opened her curtains and she saw it was still snowing,"I'm gonna make snow angels like Uniqua, Pablo, Austin, Tyrone an Tasha. An make tracks in Snowy Day. An put on jacket, an sweater, an boots, an pants, an socks!!"
We've been reading The Secret of Snow and The Snowy Day.
So right after Saturday morning pancakes, we headed outside where a lot of super fast-made snow angels were made on the sidewalk just before the legions of dogs came to pee and poop.
When we came back inside, Carolina was still excited and we helped her get out of wet clothes and I explained you have to put on dry, warm pants and a dry shirt. Sit on the couch and get a blanket. Then I'd get her a snack and juice. After she had on new clothes and the blanket was on she looked at us both and said,"Tank you eveybody. Is much better now." Because after snow fun, warm and dry clothes are good.
We've been reading The Secret of Snow and The Snowy Day.
So right after Saturday morning pancakes, we headed outside where a lot of super fast-made snow angels were made on the sidewalk just before the legions of dogs came to pee and poop.
When we came back inside, Carolina was still excited and we helped her get out of wet clothes and I explained you have to put on dry, warm pants and a dry shirt. Sit on the couch and get a blanket. Then I'd get her a snack and juice. After she had on new clothes and the blanket was on she looked at us both and said,"Tank you eveybody. Is much better now." Because after snow fun, warm and dry clothes are good.
Monday, January 2, 2012
I love my papa; Can I hug frosty?
After her nap today, Carolina stood up and said, "Look, mommy. Picture of papa!" and in fact there was in the hallway outside her room. She then looks at me and says, "I love papa" and gave me a huge hug. I'm supposing that was really for him but he's at home and we're still visiting abuela.
Every night she's asked to go home and often during the day for papa.
While watching Frosty for the hundredth time, and it might actually be 100 times by now, she asked if she could hug Frosty. So we'll have to do that when it snows as she's also been asking for her "Carolina snow boots. Big boots." and those are at home, too. Along with any possibility of snow.
A nice thing is that I'm now "allowed" to speak Spanish to her and to others as well as she wants to watch her Mickey DVDs here in Spanish. I guess Spanish isn't so bad after all.
Every night she's asked to go home and often during the day for papa.
While watching Frosty for the hundredth time, and it might actually be 100 times by now, she asked if she could hug Frosty. So we'll have to do that when it snows as she's also been asking for her "Carolina snow boots. Big boots." and those are at home, too. Along with any possibility of snow.
A nice thing is that I'm now "allowed" to speak Spanish to her and to others as well as she wants to watch her Mickey DVDs here in Spanish. I guess Spanish isn't so bad after all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)