Fuzzy Balls!

For quite some time, Jaden was having some major behavioral meltdowns. With every meltdown or wrong decision, I would sit him on timeout and then follow with a consequence which caused tears most of the time and lots of mommy guilt. I hate being the bad cop. I became discouraged and was feeling really sad.  I was sad for whatever the underlying issue is that would cause such negative behavior, sad for Jaden, and the overwhelming feelings of failure came over me. After a chat with a trusted friend, I realized every child will act out their frustration when they don't know how to properly communicate it. It's "normal". Also, I was spending so much time focusing on the negative behavior and overlooking the positive things. After coming to this realization, the fuzzy ball jar began!

It started with an empty jar and each time I have noticed good behavior such as using his manners, cleaning up his toys, being friendly, being helpful.... anything worth rewarding, I put in a fuzzy ball or two. If he has had no time out for that day, he gets a handful. He gets so excited! When the fuzzy balls fill the jar all the way, he gets to pick a fun activity (or reward).


Objective: to encourage positive behavior.


Reward ideas:
* Stay up late
* Computer games
* Go to the zoo
* Buy a new toy
* Go to a movie
* Extra dessert
* Play with friends
* PS3 games 
* Fun crafty/artsy activity
                             etc...etc.. you get the idea.

Since we started this reward system.... Jaden has been much better! He goes on time out once or twice a week! HUGE improvement! There are some weeks he doesn't do any time out. I just wanted to share this with other mommies that may be having some trouble. Don't give up!

Locked & Loaded!

As of yesterday, baby is locked and loaded.....I'm close to 3cm (he said more than 2.5cm but just under 3cm) and 70% effaced. Baby has also dropped to -1 station--I didn't realize how low he is until I found this picture. Yikes. If he scoots any lower .....he needs to just wait 5 more weeks!

 Hold on little baby!

It was an eventful appointment complete with an NST. And my rules are super strict now.

-I cannot use stairs. (Jaden's room is downstairs... maybe he can tuck me in bed instead?)
-No cleaning (Bleh! My house is looking like a crime scene!)
-No cooking unless less than 10mins (Who can cook something decent under 10mins?!)
-Minimum car rides (no more days/hours riding along with Jason while he works weekends)
-I cannot drive. (Kindof happy about this one. Utard drivers would put me into labor!)
-No spicy food and nothing with ginger-it can cause uterine irritability.
-If I get myself something to eat, I can stand for less than 10minutes.
-I can sit with my legs up or lay down.  My tailbone HURTS. Ouchies.

Short version- I can stand long enough to walk to the bathroom for a shower or to pee. Otherwise stay down for the next 5 weeks.

Anytime I stand up for any reason, Jaden says "Mommy, you're supposed to be on leg rest with your legs up!" LOL

The Dr did a test called a fetal-fibronectin (sp?). I tested negative which means I'm 90-something % likely to NOT go into labor within the next 2 weeks. Which is reassuring!


Someone asked me why bed rest is so hard. Well you see, I hate watching/vegging in front of the TV and movies. I feel like it wastes hours and time that I could be doing something better. I haven't watched much TV for almost 3 years.

Preggo-Time-Out

It started like this...... pressure in the air, stormy weather, and then came the down-pour of rain. I love rain so much. It speaks to my soul....

Then started some serious contractions..... OWWWWW!!!!! I rubbed myself down with some lavender oil. I drank gobs of water. I got off my feet but I couldn't sit still very long.... I couldn't walk it out... or talk through any of the contractions. Hmmm... probably not just braxtin hicks. Eeewww.

9 mins apart.....

Then I felt so much pressure on my cervix and in my back. Yikes.

7 mins apart....

Off to labor & delivery. Being 28 weeks, I needed help to stop these awful contractions. I have never met a L&D staff that was so nice. Every single one of them. They gave me meds to stop them but it didn't help. So they gave me shots of something... and then a steroid shot for baby's lungs. And more contraction medicine..... finally they slowed down. About 2am they sent me home with oral medicine to continue every six hours for the next month or more.

This worries me. I don't want a preemie baby again. I'd much rather a healthy baby that can fit through my little vagina! This time, I'm trusting my gut instinct and getting a hospital bag ready early. Oh and we are going to Vegas for a business convention. And I'm on "restricted duty"....which is pretty much bedrest. The doctor told me I can still go to Vegas as long as I keep walking to a minimum. Good thing we are staying in the same place as the convention! Dr was super nice and printed me a copy of my chart just in case. Then anyone can take care of me in the event that I need care. My doctor is pretty awesome.

In the mean time....keeping my legs crossed.....