And then there were 4…

… well 5 if you include Coko. And technically #4 isn’t here yet but will be in September or maybe even August.

What am I babbling about? Well, you may have noticed a new feature on our website. A count down, if you will, to our new baby!!!

I am 12 weeks into my pregnancy. My due date is September 14th! Although I have a feeling I’ll be earlier than the 14th. I was 12 days early with Zack.

Sorry to all of those who have asked me in the past 2 months when we were going to start round two and I lied, well fibbed, and said, “We’re trying” or “We’re talking about it”. We’ve known since January 6th that I was pregnant. Yes, I keep pretty good secrets, much to the dismay of my sister, Molly, who is upset with me for keeping this a secret from her for 3 months, AGAIN. I am just not one of those people who can tell others right away. I have to wait until that first trimester doctor appointment. Call me a superstitious Englishmen. We actually did tell our parents soon after we found out and that was hard for me. I wanted to wait but my dad kept insisting on trying to schedule a family vacation in September. So if my parents were to find out right away it was only fitting that Al and Diane got to know too. Our sisters were told the weekend of the 23rd -24th of February. The 23rd was my mom’s birthday and my sisters and I were spending the morning and afternoon together with my mom and she wanted to be a part of the reveal. Again, a little nervous to tell them before the Dr. appointment but I knew it would make Mom’s day.

So we had our doctor appointment on Wednesday, February 27th. Things at the doctors went well. The baby’s heartbeat is strong and I’m only measuring for 1 baby. That was all good news. Since then we have been spending some time telling a few more people in person before posting this on the blog. I would have liked to have told more of you in person but a few of the Aunties are getting a little anxious for me to post this blog and since I don't know when I'm going to be freed from my house with Zack's latest bug I thought it best to let the cat out of the bag now.

I’ve been feeling alright. I’ve been a bit nauseous but mints, lemon drops and lately fruit have helped with that. The biggest thing is that I’ve been extremely hungry. Both Darin and I can’t remember me being this hungry early on in my pregnancy with Zack. I remember later months being hungry but not this early. It’s actually quite annoying. I’m tired of eating. I’ve also been pretty tired. Which I remember quite well from Zack. That is why not much blogging has been occurring. Many, many naps, (plus being sick). Thank goodness when Zack does nap it’s for 3 hours. I sleep hard during that time.

We will be keeping you updated on this blog to my progress, although I can’t guarantee pictures of my belly. You don’t want to see the stretch marks left behind by Zack. Remember there is a way to get e-mails sent to you when I update the website. On the right hand side you will see a place to “Subscribe”.

Now, for all of you family members that have been on gag orders, consider the gag lifted and thank you for keeping our secret.

Feeling Better

Zack has been feeling much better these past two days. His fever is gone, his energy is back and his appetite is better. He had barely eaten anything on Wednesday and he was so still the entire day, which those of you that know my son well, is not like him at ALL!


This flu bug is not the stomach flu one. It's the upper respiratory kind but so far he hasn't been showing many signs of it. Knock on wood!

When is this going to end???

When will spring arrive?

We just got back from Urgent Care right now and Zack has been diagnosed with the Influenza A virus. This is the virus NOT covered by the flu shot. Zack started a fever around 8:00 this morning and we just couldn't keep it down for very long with Motrin so we had him checked out. Unfortunately there is nothing they can give him for it. Well, nothing that would make him feel better. They could give him something but it just reduces the flu by a day or two. We just have to wait it out, for maybe up to a week! Guess we're grounded again! The Dr. said the incubation period is about 4 days so when I mentioned ECFE on Monday he said that could have been where he got it from.

I can't wait for February to be done. Hopefully March will be a much healthier month for us!!!

Hope you are all staying healthy!

Zack Plays Peekaboo

I'm trying my hand at this video thing.

Enjoy!!!

UGH!!

Sorry it has been so long since my last posts. We have been fighting quite a few bugs in this household and I just haven't had the energy to spend much time if any on the web. It all began on the last day I posted...

Saturday the 26th Zack woke up from his nap cranky and warm. We just figured it was from wearing his warm sweatshirt for his nap. We didn't think too much of it until 9:30 that night when he woke up crying and was very hot, 103.8 hot! We gave him some Motrin and skinned him to his onesie only and his fever went down. By the next morning his temp was lower but by the afternoon he started to have diarrhea and by the evening his temp was rising again. Around 10:30 it was back up to 103.5. Sunday was a rough night, up every 2 hours. That is not at all like our little boy. He is a solid sleeper once he is in bed. By morning his temp was down again. Why is it that temperatures seem to rise at night time? Maybe our Doctor or Nurse friends and family may know the answer to that question. My mom thought it might be because our bodies are at rest and therefore vulnerable. Sounds like a good theory to me. On Monday I took Zack into the doctor and he thought he may have the rotavirus. Nothing he could give me for it, just keep him on Motrin for the fever and the B.R.A.T. diet (Banana's, Rice or Rice cereal, Apple Sauce and Toast) to help make his diapers a little more solid. His fever broke on Monday, the diarrhea took a few more days. Needless to say we stayed put for the entire week so as not to contaminate anyone else. Besides we had big weekend plans.

After being cooped up for 6 days we broke out of the house on Friday to go out to dinner and celebrate our friend Doug's birthday. Saturday we spent a fun evening with our friends the DuRoche's at my parents place with my sisters included, (I'll try to post my pictures soon). Sunday was the Super Bowl at my parents with the Schuster’s and our friends the Rosenau's. Also a lot of fun. Monday we attended our new ECFE class, (we are in a separation class this time around. Zack has been giving Darin a difficult time leaving me at bedtime so I thought it might be time to try this out). We actually had missed the first week because of Zack being sick. Can't tell you how the separation went because they wait until the 3rd week of class to do that. We didn't make that class either...

On Tuesday my demise began...UGH! It began with a scratchy throat and a cough that literally made me gag! On Wednesday it had moved to my sinuses. I missed a lunch with my grandparents that day but my mom and dad took Zack on my behalf. On Thursday I asked Darin if he could work from home because I wasn't sure how I was going to manage through the day. He was a life saver. That night he and Zack began to have tummy issues. Both the same kind so Friday Darin decided he'd call in for one conference call and then he was taking a sick day. Oh yeah, and we woke up to the dog puking that morning too! I went into Urgent Care on Friday night because I couldn't get in to see my doctor. But the doctor there couldn't do anything for me either. Just a bad virus that they couldn't give me anything for. I was miserable. By Saturday morning, I think, Zack had a horrible diaper rash. He would scream bloody murder when Darin attempted to change his diaper. Darin, fortunately was feeling better.

By Sunday Zack's diapers were improving and so was his rash. Monday I think I finally started to turn a corner. I measure that "corner" by no longer needing decongestants any more. I was draining, (and draining) just fine, with no pressure, on my own. Still coughing up the wazoo. It was a good thing I turned that corner then because Darin had to go into work that day and I should mention too that at this point my niece Riley, my Mom and my Grandma all had come down with the same cold. Not good. No reinforments to call if I needed them. On Thursday, Valentines day I hit another mark. Remember I mentioned this cough had me gagging, well, I puked. :-( But I was fine right afterwards. Went and had 3 pieces of pizza with no negative reaction. Lovely way to celebrate Valentines day though, (We made up for it on Saturday, the first time I had been out in almost 2 weeks!) Friday I started to get my energy back, although I am still napping quite consistently when Zack is napping. As of today I still have the cough, although not as bad, and my nose is still running, although also not as bad. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE DONE? I'd like to get back to feeling normal please.

I have the BEST husband on the planet!!!! Darin has been absolutely fantastic through out my misery. He took care of Zack for me, Thursday - Sunday when I first go sick. He said he actually got a view of my world at home during the week and now understands a little better what my days can be like. That was nice to hear. He fixed chicken noodle soup from scratch for me and disinfected/cleaned our bedroom and bathroom so we could get rid of this bug faster. And I am happy to say that neither Zack nor Darin have gotten this bug. Knock on wood!

So you see I haven't been ignoring this blog on purpose. I have just been out of commission for quite some time. I hope to be back to 100% soon and will try to post some of our pictures from the night with the DuRoche's, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentines day and some more pictures of our genius son later.

Until then, hope all of you are healthy!