Jordan-isms

Being home these weeks with Rob and Jordan have been so awesome. She goes literally all day and is like a chatty Cathy doll that is constantly rewound. I thought I would record some of the funny things she has said recently...

I want to watch Polar Sex (this is what she calls the movie Polar Express)
Don't touch my butt! (when I give her cute little bottom a pat)
All of her adorable play talk with her princess dolls is too funny for words
Jordan:Where's Daddy?
Me: He went out
Jordan: Oh he cooking dinner?
Making me applesauce and chicken nuggets with her play pots and pans
Leave the light on and no close door (every night before bed)
No pirates ( we must check under the bed nightly for pirates)
Imitating daddy doing Yo-Yo and Was Up!

Just watching her with her daddy this week has been so cute..they have an amazing bond that I hope is always there as I didn't get that bond....I will admit I am a little jealous to see their giggles, but what a lucky gal she is (and he a lucky guy)

36 weeks!!

Today I had my 36 week check up and Baby girl is still looking great..no more than 3 weeks left, though I am praying for a little earlier. I am seriously so exhausted, can't get comfortable etc, but try to stop myself when I complain because I am truly blessed to be carrying this little miracle, be 36 weeks and still not on any type of bed rest!! Huge blessings! She weighed in today in the 54th percentile and 6 pounds 6 ounces...my guess is she will be close to 8 pounds! I am pretty happy with that and hope that I can maintain my numbers so she doesn't have to go to the NICU due to low blood sugars. I have cheated a few times this pregnancy...I have been on this diet for 23/24 weeks...need coffee now!! She once again has flipped herself breech, so it looks like it would have been a c-section anyways! Can't wait to meet this new peanut...but will admit I am freaked out about the newborn thing again! Happy New Year all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and Jordan was truly spoiled ROTTEN! This was a super fun holiday with her, because she definitely understood more about Santa, loved looking at the Christmas tree, made holiday crafts and gingerbread houses with me, etc. We left cookies for Santa and watched Christmas Story this year. My brother joined us on Christmas Eve and Jordan is gaga for him. She made that poor guy run ragged. In the morning, after a 4:15 wake up call, Rob and her had pancakes and eggs and then we dove into Santa's pile. She got everything princess you could ask for, Dora toys, a Dora tent, an Olivia doll, games, play dough, doll swing, etc. In the afternoon we went to Rob's family and had a great dinner (Jordan enjoyed pineapple and running around) and then Jordan got a HUGE princess castle, princess dolls, toys, clothes, etc. I kinda wish we would get money to put towards college. She was almost manic with excitement and after no nap finally crashed at Rob's parents. We are truly so blessed and I thank God for what he has given us!

Wrapping up 2011

Well, baby girl 2 is really doing well! I am now 35 weeks and all is looking good. Next week we get another growth scan to see how big she is and I am tentatively scheduled for a c-section at 39 weeks...praying that all still goes well and I make it that far! She has given us a run for our money and I will be excited to meet her....this will be our last baby! I just am not good at being pregnant and chasing a wild toddler is a lot to handle. Jordan has become stubborn and opinionated and fights me on almost everything. UGH! Yesterday she ran away from us at the mall, yelling CHASE ME!! I have become that parent that others stare at I fear. Anyways, in other news we are preparing for XMAS, New Year's and baby. We are also finishing painting the new house and getting it professionally cleaned so we can move in around Spring Break. We also have maybe found a new day care provider, which is good since we had to break ties with the one we have been using. All in all an exciting year for the DIALS! We are so blessed!

Jordan The Queen

Well, Jordan is no longer the princess of the house...she is now the QUEEN! Today, she threw such a tantrum and tried to poke me with a fork that I had no choice but to do time out...so...her reaction...run away from time out, hit me, and tell me NO! Lovely...and did I mention I am a special ed teacher! If you have ever seen Parenthood and remember the little boy Kevin, that is my daughter. Tears flow for everything....a broken cracker, applesauce that spills, a frutisnack that "sissy" (the dog) gets.....I told Rob I sure do love her, but man, I don't like her tonight!

On a brighter note, Jordan is so much fun this year with the upcoming holidays. Santa left the Polar Express for her and that has become her new favorite. She was interested in Santa from afar, but up close...no dice. We went on the Polar Express last weekend and she had a blast. Daddy let her have 5 cookies! We have also been to Navy Pier. We are enjoying our last few weeks as a family of 3 before the new addition arrives!

Another Curve Ball

This pregnancy continues to be a bit of a challenge! I will say that I am very grateful I am still working and not on bed rest and that I am being monitored so closely, but I am getting a little tired of the constant downs. In addition to the gestational diabetes and hypertension, I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with anemia, which is easily fixed with iron supplements. I go in twice a week to be monitored, and on Monday, my fluid was on the low side of average. Anything below 5 is considered dangerous, and I was at an 8. Doc just said drink tons of water and relax as much as possible. Well I drink a ton of water anyways, but am drinking about a gallon a day these last few days in hopes of raising the fluid. I am hoping it was just her position, as she has turned herself breech for the second time since last week.. ...she is a flipper and mover so I feel reassured with her acrobats. I am now CERTAIN I will never make it to my 39 week goal, but at 34 weeks would be thrilled with 37 weeks. I just want her to come home with me from the hospital, and would be crushed if she had to stay in the NICU. Please keep thinking of sweet girl and pray for her! I am attaching a picture of her at 32 weeks...she is ov course crumpled over but she is CUTE!

Randomness

Well I am 31 weeks 4 days into pregnancy with baby 2 and all is going well! No bedrest yet. I start twice weekly appointments this next week so that will be reassuring to see baby move. The diabetes has been a pain in the butt this time, more so than last time. I have had more difficulty controlling my numbers and the doctors have upped my meds a few times. I run either a little high or super low, like my blood sugar crashes. Not fun and just praying for a healthy, full term baby!

I have developed yet another cold. I really don't remember these with Jordan..maybe because it was a different season. It is not fun to not be able to take anything for it. I long for Nyquil and Caribou Mint Conditions. Probably only 6-7 more weeks is what the drs originally thought.

Jordan caught pink eye this week. It seemed pretty mild but we did the drops anyway. Let me tell you, if you haven't tried putting drops in a two year old's eyes, you are missing out on the battle of a lifetime. She seems all cleared up now, but will probably catch my cold here and the cycle will start again. The joys of daycare are immense!

We had a great T-giving and took Jordan to a lights parade in Naperville, which turned out to be very disappointing. It was so crowded and moms kept pushing past us. Just counting down to the BIG holiday...break, time with my family, and a new baby soon after!

Alice in Wonderland

Halloween is right around the corner, and Miss Jordan is going to be Alice in Wonderland. We went trick or treating at safety town in Naperville and she had a blast. She was thrilled that she got a treat at every stop. She definitely has a love of all things sweet. She has become increasingly picky about food and we sometimes alternate carrots with Cap'n Crunch, but hey whatever. She continues to adore princesses, reading books, and stickers. She alternates between kissing my belly and telling me no baby. Should be an adventurous ride!!

Jordan Fall 2011

I
I have been slacking on the blogging lately, but really want to be better about having a record for the girls. This is kind of my attempt at a baby book. Jordan has been very busy this fall running, being independent, dressing herself, and going potty thanks to my sitter and the allure of wearing princess underwear. My sitter is much more consistent about potty training than me. Jordan continues to love fruit snacks, raisins, chips, sweets, particularly apple cider donuts, chocolate milk, Disney princesses, Disney princess movies, reading books to us, "helping"with everything, tucking her babies and stuffed horse in at night, and watching Notre Dame and the JETS with daddy. She just went to the dentist for the first time, and despite a love of all things candy and gummy, her teeth are looking great! She continues to want to name the baby either Princess Princess or Tinkerbell. She doesn't like to sit long when out to dinner, so Rob and I have developed a system of either eating fast or rotating. She adores coloring, stickers, and puzzles. She makes us laugh and I can't wait to see her in action with her little sister. I hope my girls are the kind of sisters that are best friends.

24 weeks

Well I am 24 weeks 3 days into pregnancy #2. Baby Girl is doing really well. Each time I go to the dr, I get nervous because last time things started to fall apart and I ended up on bedrest...but so far so good. Blood pressure is holding steady and my sugars are overall really good. Actually, as much as the diabetes SUCKS, I am down 4 pounds since I found out I was pregnant...so my weight gain is zero and the dr is fine with that. I crave cake and cookies, but keep thinking of my little butterball. At my 21 week ultrasound, all organs and parts looked good and she is measuring exactly perfect. At my 28 week appointment, we will get another growth scan. Someone where between 28-32 weeks they will start the twice weekly biophysical profiles and nonstress tests. As much as this is an inconvenience, it really is reassuring to see baby each time! She is definitely starting to move alot more regularly and it is pretty cool to feel her squirms. She is pretty strong and Rob has even begun to feel her sometimes. My goal is to work all the way up through Christmas break with no bed rest...so we will see!

This pregnancy has been different from the start. I was way more sick and I just can't shake this overall exhausted feeling. I mean, exhausted to the bone. Working full time and caring for a toddler are tough when you are pregnant. I absolutely am having major difficulty sleeping...can usually fall asleep but am up 15 times to go to the bathroom and often cannot go back to sleep. My hips and back aer hurting more too. Maybe just cause I am getting old. I do feel so blessed to be carrying another miracle though. As a side note, I am finding my patience at work is not what it once was...as least these kids will be whipped into shape.

I had some great pictures from the ultrasound, but can't seem to find them. Poor second babies...I will have to be sure that she gets some special time alone too once she arrives.

Keep praying that all continues to go well...only 15 weeks till my c-section!!!

Summer is Over... Back to work I go!

Well, summer is over and I am officially back to work as of tomorrow. I am incredibly sad and not feeling like it much this year. I am having a very hard time motivating myself and am quite honestly feeling very overwhelmed. I am so sick of this diabetes already...I can eat nothing and am seriously starving most of the time.Since being pregnant for these past 18 weeks I have lost almost 10 pounds due to extreme nausea and diabetes. For example today for lunch I had a hamburger without the bun and milk..wow filling huh? Any time I eat anything that has a carb, my sugars are spiked...wtf? Try being pregnant and not being allowed to eat what you want and when you want. I suck at being pregnant. I know when I seem my sweet baby this will all be worth it, but it is harder this time than it was last time by far. Don't get me wrong, it is worth it, but I am just tired.

I really don't want to go back to work this year. Maybe it is pregnancy. Maybe it is because I worked summer school and had no summer. Maybe it is because I finally was used to being a stay at home mom. Whatever the fact, I am not excited and am not embarrassed to share that fact.

I have tried to make the best of these last few days. Rob and Jordan baked a cake...by the way I couldn't have any. We went to Arlington to bet on horses and let Jordan ride the horses. We have gone to parks and downtown Naperville to the Riverwalk to walk around...all fun. Here are some pics from the last few days. Happy Back to School! Hopefully my next post is not so negative! I will try.

Two Years Old...How did that Happen?

Well...on August 12, Jordan turned 2!! Though there have been individual days that have seemed to drag on, I can not believe how time has flown by. When she went in for her two year check up, she weighed 27 pounds (58th percentile) and was 36 inches tall (96th percentile). Though she is on her second tube in her left ear, she is a very healthy, talkative, and of course smart little girl. She talks literally all day, repeating everything that is said. Current favorites include Hey Jude and Hey Food, the Sesame Street song, Pirates Life for Me, Alice in Wonderland, Micky and Minnie and anything princess! She is on the move 90% of the day, but does snuggle to watch tv with mom and dad...which she says...I hang out! She naps anywhere from none to 45 minutes to a few hours, but still LOVES those early mornings (for example 5:15 today!!) She loves to dance and pick out her own clothes...still hates teeth brushing. We are working on potty training...she adores m&ms so we have had a few good successes. She sometimes fights us on bedtimes. The day of her party turned out to be rainy on and off, so every guest crammed into our tiny house. Oh well...I think she had a blast. Here are some pics...from what I could get.

When You Wish Upon A Star

We just spent 5 days in Disney...awesome! That place really is magical. We spent hours at the pool, pool hopped to the luxury pools, had character breakfasts (Jordan loved the princesses, and liked the characters from AFAR...but was not a fan of them up close and personal), and visited the Magic Kingdom. The lights parade was amazing...she was in awe and I cried just watching her take in the magic (yes, I am pregnant...probably would have cried anyway). We did as much as we could with a little one...small world, winnie's ride, pirates, jungle cruise, parade, meet the fairies, hall of presidents, etc. It was hot and she did melt so we took breaks as needed. She was so well behaved the whole time...yes we had tantrums...but Rob and I laughed when we wondered how many melt downs the Magic Kingdom has on a daily basis.....millions? I look forward to taking her and her sibling one day...secretly I am dying to take her tothat Bippity Boppity Boutique where they give princess makeovers. I will say Disney is a cash cow but extremely well organized. I think next time we will go in fall or for the winter lights...it really was uncomfortably hot and we only did Downtown Disney and the Magic Kingdom. We just didn't think she would get the Epcot and Hollywood Studios. Here are some pics...great way to wind down the summer!

A Diabetic Diet

Well...since I had gestational diabetes with Jordan, the doctors wanted to test me early this time. I took it at 14 weeks and failed just miserably. Naturally I cried and began the panic of all things that could go wrong. I got the call when we wee in Disney so had a hardtime enjoying my last day. I am so dreading the peanut butter and egg meals that will ensue for the next 6 months. I wonder what it is like for people to have a complication free pregnancy and actually enjoy being pregnant....because I will spend the next months worrying and have already wondered if I had this issue from the start, didn't monitor my sugars and have done irreversible damage to my unborn baby. People do crack and drink and I had a few cokes and twix to ease my extreme nausea. The only thing that is makng me feel better i that I was so incredibly sick that doubt much stayed down. The dr. didn't seem overly concerned...just said more ultrasounds and biophysical profiles...which honestly is cool...I get to see the baby more often. He may do a fetal echo to see the heart up close if he is worried. I just pray that my McDonalds love has not harmed my baby. It is hard being a mommy, being pregnant, gettting ready to go back to wrk, and adding multiple doctor appointments to my plate. We don't have family support but I know Rob will be my rock. Many people have diabetes and are pregnant...I don't know if I get it while pregnant or if having Jordan just took a toll on my body...not sure...I sure do suck at being pregnant!

Jordan's Announcement

Well, it has been really hard to keep quiet, but with a few exceptions we have! Jordan is pleased to announce that she will be a big sister come January 26, 2012!!! Rob and I are thrilled!!! POSITIVE! We actually found out at my Brother in Law Brian's college graduation. I was pretty anal about taking tests so I bought a few...took them in his apartment bathroom...and OMG!!!

I have felt overall like crap and have been nauseous day and night...actually lost a few pounds...but hey I can spare it! I have been exhausted beyond belief barely able to function and deal with the ups and downs of the day. I was relieved to see only one baby and one sac at 7w mostly because I have felt so lousy and unmotivated. Anyways I am now 12w4d and starting to feel a little better and definitely starting to show. I am at risk again for gestational diabetes and am lucky enough to test for that next week. I am also already starting to see the blood pressure creep up so we are watching that. THe only other concern is my age...at 36 I am considered advanced maternal age. I opted for the downs screening and the preliminary looks good...so hopefully the blood work will match.

Jordan is beginning to understand that there is a baby inside mommy's tummy but has also informed me no baby! Some days she wants a brother and some days a sister. Obviously I am just praying for healthy...but another girl would be so fun, plus our house is small and if they could share things we would be good. I will keep updating as often as I can. I want this baby to be as remembered as Jordan as far as pictures and updates!!