Ye Olde Abandon Blog

Hi... remember me? Fifteen weeks pregnant and freaking out with every twitch and every symptom (or lack there of).

Yeah, I had to take a break from the blogosphere for a while (OK... more like 6 months!).

I was googling and looking at every blog I could find about "miscarriage at 15 weeks." Or "lack of fetal movement at 17 weeks." This continued throughout the 2nd trimester. When I entered the 3rd trimester, I stopped going on the internet. It was hard, but I resisted. Apparently, I enjoy a form of self torture where I read other's stories of loss, and rationalize that if it happened to "them," it could happen to "me." Not exactly healthy to put myself in that frame of mind.

So, I walked away. It was really hard, but I did it.

And here it is mid-November. And guess what? I have a healthy, wonderful, miraculous 2 1/2 week baby boy. I'm still trying to figure out how that happened!

Introducing... Owen Henry



He was born on Halloween via scheduled C-section (thank God!), and weighed 9 lbs. 10 oz, and was 21 1/2 inches.



His big brother Matthew seems to be adjusting well...





(and he's doing very well in Kindergarten!).

Well, there you have it. A small but rather significant update. One I never thought I'd ever be posting... I am a mother of two. Weird. I still have a hard time wrapping my head around that one.

In the coming weeks, I'm gonna try a new blog layout, and really, really try to post often. No promises, but that's the plan.

I hope to catch up with everything soon!

Sweet Boy

My dear, sweet son is currently at pre-school. I get to curl up in my favorite recliner with coffee in one hand and lap-top, well, on my lap. It's a nice 2 1/2 hour break.

I had to register him for Kindergarten yesterday. Our district makes you choose between a half day (3 hours) and a whole day (7 hours) program.

Sometimes having choices is not good. I wanted to do what was best for my son.

I consulted my dear friend Google to see what he had to say. It seems as if one study says half day is a better choice, just to have another study come out a month later that says whole day is the way to go.

I consulted my (real-life) friends and family members that are elementary school teachers. Again, no one could tell me that one program was better than the other.

I was advised to do what I think is best for my son, and our family.

So, I chose the half day program.

I would be lying to you if I told you our decision had nothing to do with the fact that I might not have another child, and I want Matthew to stay little for just one more year.

Just one more year.

Where Has the Time Gone!?!

Happy 5th birthday, Matthew!

(I was hoping to add some cute newborn photos, but the digital images are on our old hard-drive, and, alas, our scanner is not compatible with Vista... thus, no pictures.)

I cannot express how much you mean to me. You have changed my life in more ways than I can count. I have loved every minute of being your mommy. I can't believe that 5 years ago today, I first held you in my arms. Thank you for all you have given me.

(And to prove my love for this child, tomorrow we are hauling our butts to Indianapolis, IN to see his beloved Monster Trucks... that's right... Monster Trucks. Sure, they were in Detroit, a mere hour from my home a week ago. Sure, Indy is a 4 1/2-hour drive. But his FAVORITE truck/driver wasn't at the Detroit "show," and the closest he's getting to Michigan is Indy. Be sure, pictures to follow!)

Man I love this kid!

Bring It

In case anyone is wondering why I'm blogging at 5:45 am EST, well it's because I've been up all night cleaning up vomit and catching up on Project Runway via Tivo.

DS is sick. The throwing-up, stomach virus type of sick. I'm not feeling that great either. I wonder if my turn is next.

My point of this post at this hour is that I love this. I love being a mom. Mind you, I know I have been so lucky with my little guy. He'll be 5 in January (OMG!), and he's had all of one ear infection in the span of his lifetime. He was never colicky as a baby. He slept through the night at 8 weeks.

He's always been one happy, easy-going, healthy boy. I'm so blessed.

So, on nights like these, I feel like I'm earning my badge of motherhood. I was actually kind of smiling as I was cleaning up puke, and tucking him back in bed. He begged me to cuddle with him... something he has been getting away from. Lately, I have to steal kisses.

I've been getting a little tired of people complaining about their babies. About how they're so sleep deprived. That the baby is so fussy, and this and that. Now trust me, if this keeps going on night after night, I sincerely doubt I will remain so perky. It was very considerate of my son to have chosen tonight to get sick, since I don't have to go to work this morning.

All this being said, I love being a mom. Even when scrubbing the bathroom floor for the second time in the middle of the night. Even when doing two loads of laundry at 4 am. Even when tucking my child in, giving him cuddles, and telling him everything is going to be OK.

So, if having another child will require harsher working conditions, crappier hours, and dealing with a disgruntled baby all day and night, I say bring it.