Deep Thoughts

by Jack Handy Brooke Meabon

- When I'm sick (like right now), I wish they made a giant, blue nose bulb for adults like they do for babies.  There is something so satisfying about clearing a baby's nose and I wish I could do the same to mine.

- When I get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and don't turn the lights on, the thought almost always crosses my mind, "I hope a snake isn't hiding in the toilet waiting to bite me on the bottom".

That's it.  Over and out.

Christmas Terror

Didn't I warn you that the Christmas posts were on their way?

We kicked it off in true fashion today with a birthday party for Harper's friend, Audrey.  I love this birthday idea for a December birthday.  They hosted breakfast in your Christmas pj's with Santa, complete with jingle bells, Christmas activities and a visit from the Big Guy himself!

Jingling her bells for Santa

For those of us who have been acquainted with this gentleman for 31+ years, I've got to say Santa was lookin' mighty fine this morning.  When he walked in, Harps was pretty awe struck and kept saying quietly, "Uho, uho, uho."  We've been talking about this gentleman and pointing at pictures for a few weeks now so I was happy to see that she recognized him.

Keeping an eye on him

Safe from a distance

Then it was picture time.  Of course, I forced my child to sit on the lap of an stranger - an old man with a huge scary beard.  I mean, come on Harper - get in the spirit!  There are no tears at Christmas!

"That's some beard mister"

"Does anyone else think this is a little odd?"

"What the heck Mom???"

"Seriously!  Not funny!"

Pure Christmas joy

We have two more scheduled Santa visits to go.  We'll see if the Squirrel warms up to the idea before the 25th.   Maybe for the next round of pictures, she won't have a fat lip.  Yes, Harper fell yesterday and caught herself with her top lip just in time for Christmas photos.  Awesome.

Santa read a story before he left

The big kids were mesmerized

Enough of that guy!  She was happy to color on her own.

Houston and Omphalocele Update

Ah, it's nice that the O has taken the back seat on this blog and life of a toddler, pregnant woman and her husband have taken the driver's seat.  But since the Squirrel is and always will be an "O baby" we might have the occasional update to share.  

We headed to Houston on Tuesday for our Wednesday morning appointment with Dr. Cass, Harper's surgeon.  We hadn't seen Dr. Cass since surgery in July and we'd put her follow up appointment off a little longer than we should have but no harm done.  With no prompts by the medical team, Jared and I just assumed that we would be released from services and back to normal life after this appointment.  Um, not so much.

Here's the long and short of it.  Dr. Cass was happy with Harper's stomach and progress she's made.  He was very pleased with her scar and bellybutton.   Harps does still have a pretty large bulge on her stomach (it almost looks like a very large hernia) when she strains or sits up from a lying down position.  The muscle wall was brought together and the fascia on each side was sewn together during her surgery.  However, the muscles at the center of her abdominal wall still seem to be pretty weak and thin.  We're hoping that with time, these muscles will build and strengthen on their own and we'll stop seeing the bulge.  We'll go back for another check up when Harps is two and then again when she's three so that Dr. Cass can keep an eye on that belly bulge.  If there doesn't seem to be an improvement, she'll need to have surgery again around 3 yrs old to adjust the ab muscles.  

So, no.  We aren't through with Houston yet.  But we are totally comfortable and confident with the team at TCH and will proceed in any way that they feel necessary.  Isn't nice to have a doctor you trust?

After driving to and from Midland for Thanksgiving and then sticking the Squirrel back in her car seat for a Houston road trip, I can say that she is OVER the car for now and we're happy to be staying put for Christmas!

Thoughts on pregnancy round #2

Here I am, 25 weeks/6 months into this pregnancy and I think it's appropriate to write down some thoughts about pregnancy with Número Dos.

- Second children really do get a bit of a raw deal. With my first pregnancy, I was SO in tune to everything going on with the baby. I could tell you details like when the baby was forming fingernails, when it could begin to see the sunlight or bright lights shining through my belly and when it started taking practice breaths. Someone would ask me how far along I was and I'd answer "23 weeks and 2 days". I checked my pregnancy app on my phone daily to find out little details about pregnancy and what I should be doing. This time around, I've literally had moments where I have to remind myself I'm pregnant. Ask me how far along I am and I'll probably give you a look of confusion and answer, "Uh, I'm due in March so, what? 6 months?". We haven't made any nursery purchases, nor have we decided anything about his room and he will, most likely, be wearing his sister's pink pajamas when he arrives. And while I'm being careful about what goes into my body, I'm definitely not being the deli meat Nazi that I was the first time around.

- There is no scientific research behind this next statement but purely my own theory. I think carrying a boy and, therefore, having testosterone in your body that you aren't use to can make you a crazy, raging psycho. My patience level is just about non-existent. I can go from happy as a lark to stark raving lunatic in about 2 seconds. Don't believe me? Ask my poor husband. Wow. There are times I surprise myself! And I'm chalking this up to the testosterone. I was not like this with Harper. I was peaceful, happy and hungry. Now I feel like everyone around me is trying to push my buttons...and I'm still hungry. So if I snap on you or you walk away from an interaction with me thinking, "geez, what a hag!", I apologize in advance and promise to be normal again in March. Well, make that May when I have some sleep.

- Jar and I are both a little baffled that we saw this little guy in our last sonogram at 18 weeks and now won't see him again until he's here in person. You have to remember that we had weekly sonos with Harps so got to see her all of the time. This time, we hit the major check points with the anatomy scan and that was that. Kinda weird.

- We're also freaking out a little that we really don't know what it's like to have a newborn at home. Harper was over 2 months old when we brought her home. She was sleeping through the night and we didn't have to deal with those awkward moments like when their belly button falls off. Do we need to be taking those parenting classes at the hospital???

- My boobs are huge. And not in a good way. In a way where I have cleavage wearing a turtle neck. My husband might disagree but I am not amused. Why couldn't I be waif-like with size A cups?!?!

- Please don't tell me that we won't be as lucky with this baby as we've been with Harper from a personality standpoint. I realize that Harper might be the most easy-going child on the face of the planet. You are right, we might not get "that lucky". I would prefer children with unique personalities and things that make them special. We might have another mellow mushroom but, then again, we might not. But for some reason this statement always rubs me the wrong way. It makes me think people are wishing us an unruly child. You might get to see that psycho crazy I was taking about earlier if you bring up the "lucky" thing.

- I'm eating way too many pepperocinis for it to be healthy. If I haven't burned a hole in my stomach, I'm a little surprised. I set a jar out while I make both lunch and dinner and munch away like they're popcorn. I go through two jars a week - seriously. This kid is going to like spicy food whether he wants to or not.

- Confession: If I'm wearing a blousey shirt and you might not totally know if I'm pregnant or not at first glance, there have been times where I grip my stomach like I feel a kick, just so the person behind me at the grocery store knows it's a baby belly, not a taco belly. And no, there probably was no kick.

- All this being said, I still really like being pregnant. I love those bumps and kicks. They make me smile.

It's here!

That's right folks!  It's the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!!!

We got home around noon yesterday and by the time the clock struck 9pm last night, the Christmas Explosion had fully landed in the Meabon household.  Yippee!!!!

Tree - check.

Outside lights - check. 

Wreathes (2) - check.

Stockings hung by the chimney with care - check.

Multiple nativities out and on display - check.

Santa Clauses, reindeer and numerous Christmas paraphernalia spread throughout the house - check.

Please stay tuned for the obligatory holiday posts that will follow for the next 29 days.  

I'm so excited I might pee in my pants!

Last of the Thankfuls

With holiday travel, I got a little behind so for my last thankful posts that led up to the big Turkey Day....

I am thankful for a toddler that can travel in a car for five hours without a major meltdown.  The Squirrel kept herself busy with books, baby-feeding, singing and a little snoozing from San Antonio to Midland and then back again.  On the way home, she realized about 45 minutes from the house that she was pretty tired of the car but I hopped in the back and with a little musical accompaniment, we made it home.

I am thankful for our friends and family who have been our rocks over the last two years.  With a move, a baby born with a birth defect, surgeries and hospital time for both Harper and me, and now a second baby on the way, we could not have done it without you!

I hope you all had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

SADC

Ten years ago, a group of my high school friends that had all moved back to SA started a dinner club.  Ten years later, the group has morphed and changed but now consists of about 30 of us from all over Texas, and a few from even further away, that get together every other Thursday for dinner.  I am so thankful for this group of women!  I look forward to our conversations, tasty meals and lots of laughs.  Knowing that I get to have a girl's night twice a month is refreshing to my soul....not to mention the loads of advice I come home with!