A house full of boys!

First off, I'd just like to say sorry nobody has been able to comment on my blog. I'm not sure why it isn't working.

Now on to more important news... we are having another BOY!!!! I am just so excited about it. I was really nervous yesterday waiting to find out. It seemed like an eternity in the waiting room. I was going over a million things in my head, and kind of freaking out a little bit. I think little girls are adorable but I don't know the first thing about them. I'm scared to death of changing their diapers. I have no clue how to play with barbies or tea sets, or any of those cute little girl toys. I know boys! I understand them and all their intrigues. It's just not as scary to me. I'm not saying I wouldn't have been happy to have a little girl and someday we probably will. But I'm just really happy that this little bundle of joy is a boy!

Also of note, I'm sure you guys have noticed I never put any pictures up on here. Sorry, it's just a journal for me. You can find tons of pictures, video, and commentary on our family website, web.mac.com/mikevandyke1

How wrong is this?

I know it's misleading, but...

Okay, I had a prenatal visit yesterday and I really didn't feel like being lectured about losing two pounds. So I spent the entire day stuffing my face with everything imaginable to get myself back up to last weeks weight. I barely made it, too. I feel bad about being sneaky and sort of a liar, but I'm just sick of being lectured. It would be different if I only went once a month, but I have to hear this every single week! 

I never weighed myself before I got pregnant and was perfectly happy that way. Now I find myself having to check every other day to make sure I'm not losing any more. It gets so frustrating!!!! I seriously need someone to tell me exactly what I'm doing wrong. Here's a list of what I typically eat every day, keeping in mind that I can't have any salt or processed foods, and only three ounces of meat a day.

2-3 bananas

1 large bowl grapes

1-2 grapefruits

1 apple

2-3 oranges

1 bowl fresh veggies (carrots, broccoli, tomatoes...)

1 cup unsalted peanuts and raisins

about 3 ounces of meat with a baked potato

That's a whole heck of a lot of food to me! I'm practically eating all day long and it's not cheap either. I want to make sure I have a healthy baby, and I'm really worried that it's not getting everything it needs because I keep losing weight. If anyone has a suggestion, I'm all ears.

Confused...

From pig to twig?

I'm really confused about this week. I went to the YMCA this morning to weigh myself thinking I had surely gained a little bit of weight, but no. I have been eating twice as much as the past couple of weeks, and doing the same amount of exercise but somehow I have lost two pounds. So now I have to prepare myself for another lecture from my doctor tomorrow. Last time she was scolding me for only gaining three pounds and now I've lost two!!! I need some serious help figuring out what to eat to help me. 

My smart boy!!!

I can't believe how much he is learning!!!

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch watching television and Phillip kept trying to get my attention. I kept trying to get him to go play with his Dad. Then he just started screaming the alphabet at me. I was really surprised! He has known his letters for a while he has never said the whole thing by himself before. Then this morning we were drawing words on his little magnetic doodle pad. He likes to say the letters as I'm writing and then I tell him what it says. Well today he caught me off guard big time. I wrote C-A-T and he yells out "CAT!!!" Then he did the same thing with "ball," and "car." I'm just amazed at this recent learning spurt.

So Thankful!

Thinking about life...

I'm just sitting here contemplating today. I do that a lot because I'm a big softy, but no crying today. I just feel very thankful. My husband is so wonderful to me. For the past nine months, it would be an understatement to say I have been stressing out with Phillip. Just recently I decided I needed more help. So I went to my husband, who I normally don't ask to do much, and told him I needed some serious help with Phillip. Mike immediately started taking over more and more of my responsibilities with him. Since then Phillip is going to bed without any kind of fight and behaving so much better. I'm really glad I have a husband so willing to help me. Someone's getting a special Valentine's Day!!!

When I was first put on this new diet, I was devastated. I love healthy food, but I also love plenty of other things, like chocolate. But for the past week I have felt better and had more energy than I have in a long time. I know it's because I am eating so healthy. Yesterday I was even able to get out and play tennis with Mike. I actually did really good, too. So I'm very thankful for the awesome doctors taking care of me. They are truly amazing!

I'm very thankful for the friends I have. I may not have very many of them, but the few I do have are so great! They always lend an ear when I need it and never judge me. Thank you so much!

Finally, a good appointment!

I had to have one eventually!

I had another prenatal visit yesterday afternoon. I've been going one to two times a week, and usually not with pleasant results. I'm so happy to say that yesterday was much better. I still had to wait forever, and I was the last person to leave the parking lot, but everything else went well.

I've gotten used to waiting. Mike got me a new book for Christmas, so I've been reading it while I wait to see the doctor. I'm really enjoying the book, too! I don't know if any of my friends have ever heard of Emily Giffin, but she is my favorite author. I like to read mushy girly books. Anyway, yesterday I got to read for a good hour before seeing the doc.

Since about a week and a half ago I have been watching every little thing I eat. I'd be surprised if I've eaten any salt at all, ha ha. So, it was rewarding to see that my blood pressure was completely in the normal range. It was 119/72. My doctor was really impressed, too. She couldn't believe how quickly I was able to get it down. I still have to come back next week and the week after that. They still want to keep a close eye on me and make sure everything stays normal.

My blood test results for my kidneys came back normal, too. I was incredibly relieved to hear that! I have been worrying myself to death about it. 

The only thing the doctor had to say that was negative was concerning my weight. I've still only gained between two and three pounds. I honestly don't know what they expect from me though. With the diet I am on, I would have to eat all day long to gain any weight. I still have a life! I'm just not going to stress out about it. It's not like I was skinny when I got pregnant, so if I only gain fifteen pounds or so, I don't think it will be a big deal. 

Tears of Progress

Some things will always make you cry.

The past year of Phil's life has been very difficult for us. We noticed around eighteen months that he wasn't developing mentally as quickly as other children. He had an unusually unhappy disposition and no desire to interact with us most of the time. I always blamed myself. But as it turns out Phillip is just different. He won't say words he doesn't understand, and he doesn't do activities unless he's confident he can succeed. Physically, Phil far exceeds a majority of children his age. His balance and coordination are incredible! 

In October we contacted the Russell Child Development Center. They have been so great at helping us find activities and ways to interact with him to build his confidence. I didn't realize how much progress he had made until just this past week. I see him talking and playing with his Dad, and it just brings tears to my eyes. His communication skills have improved a hundred fold. I've also noticed how much happier he seems. I was convinced Phillip didn't like us. I thought I was just a terrible mother because he was always so mad, but now I understand that he just needed more time.  

I'm so proud of my son, for everything we've put him through, and for his desire to do better.

Pregnancy Stuff

I like to think sometimes that I am invincible. I get it into my head that I am too busy for being sick or having problems of any kind, and every once in a while that comes back to bite me in the bum! This pregnancy, in and of itself, is a true blessing in my life. I am so happy to be adding a new member to our family! But pregnancy isn't just nine months of harvesting a baby. I tend to forget how fragile our bodies are, and what a strain it can be. After being told by my doctor that if I don't do exactly what they say, I'll end up on bed rest for the last half of my pregnancy, the fragility of the situation has realistically set in. 

I have been put on a lot of restrictions, but to be honest, they are all things I should probably be doing anyway. My diet is very restricted. I can have fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and lean cuts of meat as long as they aren't seasoned with any kind of salt. I can only drink water, and at least three 36 oz. bottles of it a day. That filtered pitcher Mike got me for Christmas is suddenly seeming like an ever better gift, ha ha. I am supposed to get at least thirty minutes of mild cardio exercise every day, no exceptions. I'm actually very grateful for that ultimatum since now I can feel guilt-free for leaving Mike to put Phillip to bed every night.

Thank God for tiny blessings!

I've also been instructed to buy my own blood pressure monitor and keep a daily record of my BP during morning, noon, and evening. I bet I can predict when it's highest! So we are ordering one and it will be here this week. Until then, I'm going to Wal-Mart to check it, so I'm only going once a day. The highest we have gotten to is 151/85, but that only lasted about an hour and then it went back down. 

In general I feel fine. The symptoms I have aren't bad enough to alter my daily activities by any means. Every once in a while I get a little dizzy or light-headed due to a low blood count, but it goes away when I sit down and have a snack so it's not really a big deal. Everyone has been really kind to help me out with my appointments. If Karen reads this, "You are the best for watching Phillip, thank you so much." And thank you to every one else for their help and support. I've been pretty whiny the last couple of weeks and I promise I'll stop. I don't want to chase any of my friends away!