Chicago Moms Blog

My "preterm labor" baby story

I will never forget all of the planning and charting and waiting and charting...did I mention charting?  Our first attempt at conceiving was unsuccessful.  It ended up in a lot of weeping, depression and a D&C.  Our second attempt was planned to a "T".  As a matter of fact, I can tell you who, what, where, when and how.  I suppose the most important thing here is the "who", right?

I tried not to be anxious.  I tried to wait for at least a day after my missed period to test.  My patience wore thin and I grabbed that test and gave it my best shot (literally).  I waited and watched and it didn't take long for those two little lines to appear.  I felt relieved and nervous.  After the ordeal I had just went through three months earlier, I wasn't sure I could handle the stress again.

Fast forward eight weeks and I began sobbing as soon as I saw that little flicker of a beating heart on the ultrasound monitor.  That little flicker wasn't the only indication of a life blooming inside of me, I was sick as a dog.  It wasn't easy keeping our news from the family but we wanted more time to let the thought of becoming parents sink in.

Kicking and screaming with nowhere to go

My husband and I were all ready to have a nice, quiet, productive evening.  As soon as that little hand hits the seven and the big hand hits the twelve, we know the battle is about to begin.  We try to play it smooth and cautious, giving out subtle "hints" that it's almost "that time".  My heart begins to race because I know there will be some form of debate and negotiating that must be done.  I prepare my mind for what the offering could be if she will go to bed "like a big girl".  What does that even mean?  I consider myself a big girl and I have a hard time going to bed at a certain time too.

But I digress.  The clock was ticking and time was running out.  On this particular night, I needed to come up with a fool proof master plan.  This, people, takes time AND energy.  Both of which are very limited in my world right now.

We turned off all forms of entertainment and distractions in the house and cuddled on the living room floor while her daddy grabbed a couple of books.  Thumb was in the mouth, blankie held tight in hand (I'm referring to her this time).  I successfully managed to slip on the jammies and after the last book,

Parent vs. Toddler vs. Parent

Parenting a two and a half year old has proven to be quite the challenge.  To marathon runners I say, "I don't need to run a marathon.  I have a toddler".  We've entered the stage where the toddler has decided that she runs the show..or at least "thinks" she does.  I sit here, as she screams bloody murder through the monitor.  She's doing it again.  She does not want to nap.  She did not want to sleep last night.  We were awake for about four hours with her in the middle of the night.  She wouldn't tell us what was wrong.  She would only point her finger in our faces and say, "I NOT going to sleep ANYMORE!"  I can  only assume she may have had too much sugar and napped for too long yesterday.  The daily routine has been working just fine but all of the sudden, we are having major issues around bedtime and nap time.

This new change is making it very hard for me to concentrate, especially since I work from home.  I could turn off the monitor but that doesn't stop the echo of wails and banging fists on the crib rails, which we just  re-attached to the toddler bed at three a.m. this morning.  That was all we could think to do, after putting her back to bed a countless number of times of her getting up, screaming and following us back into our room.  I question what could be the matter.  Could she have had a nightmare?  A stomach ache?  Could she be thirsty?  I've made an attempt to soothe her by rubbing her back and her tummy. But that's not it.  She just doesn't want to sleep.  She wants to test us.  She wants to see how far she can push us.

Biting off more than I can chew

My days are planned out for me before I even wake up in the morning.  I have a list of to-do's in my mind that never seem to get done.  Let me re-phrase that.  I have "multiple" to-do lists in my mind.  It doesn't help much for me to write things down because I end up ignoring them anyway.  My brain isn't very happy with me and I'm physically worn out.  I'm biting off more than I can chew, in a sense.

I've always been a busy-body.  I don't remember a time when I've ever really been bored or not had something to do.  I always say that I have a lot of pent up creative energy and can never figure out what it truly is that I want to do.  So I do little things, a lot of little things, in the hopes that one of these little things will become my "niche".  For the longest time, I have been trying to figure out what my talent is.  I've gone on thinking that I really don't have a specific talent.  Not sure why I think that we all should have one but that's just the way I think.

Chicago, don't take away our music!

This Wednesday, the Chicago City Council will vote to approve an ordinance that will completely damage  Chicago’s thriving music scene.  This is UNACCEPTABLE.

I have lived in the Chicago area for the past 11 years and do you know what brought me here?  The MUSIC and ARTS scene.  Had it not been for places like The Fireside Bowl (referencing Wikipedia, where my husband's old band is actually listed), The Empty Bottle, The Double Door, Schubas (where we take our toddler to see family-friendly matinée shows with bands like The Terrible Twos), Metro and so on.  Oddly enough, I posted about the music and venues I love right around this time last year.  Honestly, I probably would not have met my husband it weren't for our love of music and the venues mentioned above.  I have spent countless nights congregating at these establishments and never once have I felt like I was in any danger.  The staff at these venues obviously care very much about the people in attendance and take every precaution to ensure everyone's safety.  I know this first-hand.

American Idol: The Top Five Sing Neil Diamond

Here we are, nearing the end of Idol Season 7.  I've been missing in action for a month and a half on my updates but will pick up right where I left off.

I'm only slightly surprised at two of the fallen idols  who didn't make it further into the competition.  Those two would be Michael Johns and Carly Smithson.  Although, I think that the guys who have made it this far do belong in the top five.  The girls, eh, not so much.  I would have been happy to see Carly make it further toward the end.  I liked Michael; I didn't think he was uber fantastic but he was definitely a consistent performer.  No worries.  We'll see him around again, I'm sure.  I'll never forget that chiseled face and adorable Aussie accent.

Welcome to St. Marys, Mr. Clinton!

I just heard the news that former President, Bill Clinton will be in my hometown of St. Marys, PA today (Thursday)!  This is EXCITING news for my itty bitty home city!  After speaking with more people about his visit, I  realize why the Clinton party may be heading into our pretty little city and the surrounding cities and towns, possibly because of a few remarks that Barack Obama made in San Francisco the other day?  Now, I've been in my own little world these days, what with starting a full-time job and whatnot, but I have searched around and found this post over at Politico.com that has captured, in full, Obama's remarks on small towns in PA and the Midwest.

Even though I have my opinion, I am not going to comment on Barack's remarks right at this moment because I need to educate Mr. Bill about St. Marys!

SAHM turns CM

**First of all, Happy Easter!  To me, Easter is a time to celebrate the beginning of the Spring season.**

"CM" is my made up acronym for "career mom" because I'm not sure what to label myself from here on out. I've spent the last two and a half years tending to my toddler on a daily basis. Watching her grow, learning with her and just enjoying life in general.  I am obviously not giving that up but I am now hanging up my "track suit" in exchange for some new business suits and trying to pick up where I left off before I brought my beautiful daughter into the world.

Ultimately, I knew this day would come. One just cannot live in the Chicago suburbs on a single income alone, in a home that refuses to sell in this market. I tend to believe that things happen "for a reason".  I realize the first few weeks of this transition will be equally as hard for my toddler as it will be for me but she will soon get over it, go on about her day playing with new playmates and know that I will return to pick her up. I, on the other hand, will probably sit and stare at a photograph of her on my new desk, longing to just sit and hold her or take her to the zoo or to the park.  Is that the working mother's reality?  I will sure miss my freedom to come and go as I please and discover new things right along with her.

If one were to wed in the Windy City

My sister-in-law just got engaged and is planning a Spring 2009 wedding.  I've been married going on 50 years now, just kidding, it will actually be six years for me this August.  That being said, I haven't been in the wedding market for quite some time now, so I'm a little rusty.  My, my, how time flies when you're  gaining weight and having babies.

Back in the day when my husband proposed to me, we (or I) had already decided that we would get married in my hometown in Pennsylvania.  That is where the majority of my HUGE family lives and it's always been important to me to get married in the same church I grew up in.  My sister-in-law will marry in the city, that is, provided there are any "openings" a year from now.  I don't know anything about planning a wedding in the city of Chicago.  The one thing I do know is how quickly churches and venues book up and how much more expensive it is to wed here as opposed to in a town where the population doesn't exceed 14,000.

American Idol: The Top 12 Sing The Beatles

I'm going to go ahead and get my main American Idol spoiler over right now.  Either David Hernandez or Kristy Lee Cook is going home after tomorrow night.  I'll get to my reasons why in a bit.

Overall, tonight's show was pretty entertaining.  Everyone was getting a little crazy and what was up with Ryan Seacrest mosh pitting around the stage with Chikezie?  Soon he'll be wearing a mohawk.  Speaking of mohawk's, when will David Cook bring back his?  I'm all about that David Cook boy.