8 Weeks ago we had a baby :)

So, I really thought that I'd do a better job at blogging :)

Cam was born 3 weeks early on November 28, 2009. I was induced because of preeclampsia. He arrived weighing 6lbs 1oz and measuring 19 3/4 inches long. He was healthy and I had only a small number of stitches. We went home on November 29 and started the most amazing journey of our lives.

I can't believe how much life has changed over the last 8 weeks. Admittedly, the first few weeks were very hard. Cam had severe reflux plus a little sphincter muscle that was too tight. As a result, he had heart burn after every feed and had to build up a large amount of gas before he could pass it. After every feeding he would scream (very shrill painful scream), arch his back, and kick his legs. This would last for nearly an hour before he would calm down. I was heartbroken for him. I tried everything! We swaddled, we walked, we rocked, we cried together, tried every burp position possible. Nothing worked. Doctor had me start giving him Mylanta after every feeding, which helped minimally. Life changed for the better on December 30 when Cam started taking Ranitidine (Zantac) twice a day. He actually relaxes and sleeps after eating now! The sphincter is getting looser and he is now able to poop and toot on his own.

He is smiling and holding up his head well.

He's still not sleeping through the night. He usually goes to sleep around 10 or 1030 and wakes up to eat around 3am. He'll sleep again until about 6am and wake for another feeding. We started some rice cereal in his bottle last night because he always seems hungry. ALWAYS! Poor guy. The rice cereal seemed to make him feel better last night.

I had to quit breast feeding at 6.5 weeks, which made me very sad. I have had severe migrating joint pain since about week 30 of pregnancy. It got significantly worse after Cam was born. They tried me on several meds that were safe to take when BFing, but none of them worked. I quit so that they could put me back on birth control (in case this is a hormonal problem) and could start taking an opiate pain reliever called Tramadol (which does work some). It seems to be getting better. I didn't have to take the pain meds the other night. Hopefully the birth control is going to fix it. I've already tested negative for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, and thyroid problems.

Last pregnant picture: 37 weeks. Cam was born 4 days later.

Just born and in the warmer

1st smile at 5 weeks and 3 days

Cam at 6.5 weeks and his new cousin, Madi Lewis

7 weeks. Sitting in the Bumbo

7 week family photo

Getting chubby at 8 weeks

I'm ready to wear real pants again...

We are currently 31 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Camden is growing steadily. The latest trip to the doctor confirmed that my fundal height is 31 cm, which is perfect for a women in her 31st week of pregnancy! I did have to go to the general practitioner doctor yesterday because my hands and wrists were swelling with muscle weakness and pain. She drew some blood to be tested and put me on the steroid Prednisone to help with swelling. I woke up this morning feeling like a new woman with no pain! Yay!Hopefully we'll find out this week what is causing the pain. :)

I was daydreaming today about wearing my skinny jeans. I actually thought about trying them on, but decided that it probably wasn't a good idea. I miss my straight legged, real waist jeans. I do know, though, that once Camden is here in my arms that I'll miss his gymnastics inside my belly. I love to recline at night and watch him bopping around in there. He's warm and snuggly and I'm happy knowing that he's always with me. I've been reading aloud to him at night. He seems to enjoy it because he starts moving around when I do it :) The pic below is my belly at 31 weeks! Growing :)

Early morning Camden moment

This is a picture that Mark took of me standing in the dining room looking out to the back yard. Camden was kicking and I was watching him. It was such a precious moment.
26 weeks and 5 days pregnant

September, already?

I can't believe that it's already September!

I am turning 26 on Wednesday and it struck me the other day that it has now been ten years since I turned 16. I can't believe it. Really. How did the time move so quickly?So, on 9/9/09 I'll be more than halfway through my 20s. :)

Mark has now started working nights. It's been a difficult adjustment because I miss him at night. I definitely don't like sleeping alone. I've been piling pillows next to me so that I can pretend not to be alone. Baby has been coming in and sleeping in the bedroom with me at night. I can't think of a better protection than a 65lb+ Pit Bull-Labrador mix. Let someone try and creep up on me. He'll be on nights indefinitely. Walmart is going to a 4 co-manager system. 2 on days and 2 on nights to help keep the store running. Rumor is that they may even get a hefty pay raise (fingers crossed!). It's not too bad, I suppose. He works for 4 nights from 7pm-8am and then is off for 4 days. So, he'll have more free time.

I'm posting my 25 week picture. Pretty noticeable change from the 24 week picture. Camden is definitely "popping." I didn't gain any weight between 24 and 25 weeks, but I think that this is because I ate the same number of calories and Camden actually grew, so he took some of my fat stores. It looks like I'm going to need to increase the number of calories I eat to ensure that he and I each get enough of what we need. I bought walnut-sized green grapes at Sam's club the other day and have been snacking on those...yum.

I hope that everyone is doing well. :)

24 Weeks

We had the 24 week appointment today. Camden's heartrate was 150 beats per minute, down from 158 at the last visit. Weight gain stands at 22lbs. Next month's appointment is the glucose test (YAY...not) to test for diabetes.

Here is the 24 week belly picture. It's grown so much in the last month. It's unbelievable. :)

What a miracle.

That's one energetic fetus

Last night, as Mark and I were laying in bed reading, I noticed that Camden was being very active. We pulled up my shirt to see if we could visibly see his antics. We did :)
My stomach was popping like popcorn. It's been a neat experience for Mark, because I can feel it all of the time and now he can see the evidence that his son is becoming stronger every day. He's been able to feel him too for a couple of weeks, but to actually see huge kicks and bumps is a new experience for him.
School has started back and I have to say that it's been the best start to a school year thus far. The kids are already great and because I'm now into my 5th year of teaching things are going much more smoothly. I can walk in in the morning without being completely prepared and without stress figure out what I'm going to do. Can't wait to see how things go with the AP exam in May :)

Back to School Shopping

I've come to the realization that back to school shopping is not nearly as fun when you're pregnant. I'm now officially in my 6th month of pregnancy and am having some slight issues. Issue #1. Regular clothes don't really fit. I've been lucky enough to find some non-maternity shirts that should last for a good bit of the final 17 weeks of pregnancy, but I'm sure that I'll need more in a few weeks. Issue #2. Many of the maternity clothes out there either look like they are mad for old ladies or young frumpy ones. Issue #3. I can find cute maternity clothes at Motherhood Maternity, but their small sizes (which is what I need) don't actually fit my breasts any more. I haven't grown enough anywhere else to need a medium, but the smalls are made for smaller breasts. Issue #4. I'm cheap. I can't imagine paying a lot of money for something that I'm only going to be wearing for a few more months.
Aside from those clothing issues, I'm also planning my return to normal clothes. Camden is due on December 15. I'm giving myself until Summer to fit back into my old clothes. That's 6 months. This means some serious work. Hopefully, I'll be one of the lucky ones and will shed the pounds quickly with breastfeeding and healthy eating. To lose 30lbs between May 2008 and January 2009 only took healthy eating and a minimal amount of walking, so we'll see. I'm ok if my hips spread and those old jeans don't fit, but I'm already tired of my tummy sticking out further than my breasts and it's only been that way for a few weeks. Thus far I've gained about 21 lbs. This is certainly more than the weight that most of those advice about pregnancy websites recommend, but my doctor says that I'm on track. She expects a gain of about one lb per week, in which case I'm 2 lbs behind. Ha, I'm sure that I'll make that up in the last weeks of pregnancy when Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us. Love love love the foods from that time of the year.