Cute Little Boy Pictured Overload!!! (And an update!)

I'm working super hard to get some regularity with my blog posts...2 in a row? That's a win in my book! :)

So, if you've read any of my posts in the past, you might know that Jason and I have been trying to have another baby. We are looking at 22 months right now. We weren't expecting to have any trouble getting pregnant. We got pregnant with both boys so quickly, that we assumed that it would always be like that. I've been struggling with letting go. It's hard for me to not want things to happen in my own time, and not God's time. But, I've finally hit a point where I feel better. I'm more comfortable with the wait. And I have a wonderful experience at Confession to thank for that.

We'd been to the doctor about 3 months ago. He did some blood tests and ruled out certain, obvious problems. He told me that he wanted me to continue using ovulation predictor kits and if we weren't pregnant in another 2 cycles, to come back. So I did last week.

I mentioned that Jason had brought home a booklet about infertility for me to read (always a bad idea as I'm one of those hypochondriac-types who Googles and then finds herself having all the symptoms), and it talked about scar tissue causing problems. I scar very badly, often hypertrophic scars (which I had always thought it was actually keloid until I researched to find a link for this! Who knew??). My doctor said that it was definitely a possibility and that it was going to be our next step. So, next week I'm going to have a procedure done which will show the doctor if my tubes are blocked by scar tissue, some other reason, or if everything looks healthy. If everything actually looks good, the only next step is to see an infertility specialist. We will cross that bridge later. Right now I'm trying to focus on this test.

So please pray for us, for me, for the doctor. It's just a test, and there's technically nothing to worry about, but I am. 

***the random sets of pictures are just because I realized that I have so many pictures that are often not shared anywhere else, and it is so fun to look at the boys growing up!***

7 Quick Takes - Vol 14

--- 1 ---

I'm still struggling when I hear about people having babies, or getting pregnant.  I'm so happy for new life, of course, and so happy for everyone who is getting blessed. But, I'm struggling because we aren't pregnant yet. In order to work through this a bit more, I'm trying to do something tangible, to show my happiness for others. Because, hey--BABIES! So, our friend that Jason works with just had a baby this week and I chatted with her a bit last night and she's struggling to get her milk in and feeling like she's not feeding her baby. So I baked her some "lactation cookies" today and we're visiting them tonight!

Also, delivering those old fashioned oats because they likely won't get eaten fast enough here. :)

--- 2 ---

Since my weight and measurements went up and I was feeling so sorry for myself, Jason volunteered to do my diet with me. I'm sure he'll drop 20 pounds in a week and I'll be forced to hate him. ;-)

--- 3 ---

We took Dominic for his speech evaluation this morning and he wouldn't participate very much. The SLP wants us to come back a few days next week to kind of get him used to hanging out with her and re-try the evaluation at the end of next week. She said that she only understood about 3 of his phrases, and she was a little concerned that he tended to fixate on things. For example, she brought out a jar of bugs (which he called Mr. Krabs and Gary), but when the timer went off after 5 minutes, she seemed to think he should be able to switch to a new task (that did not involve toys) without being upset. That does not seem to be the case with Dominic, and it isn't my experience in general. But, my experience is limited. Is this something your 3yo do? Can they switch to new tasks without getting upset?

--- 4 ---

Speaking of speech therapy, Christopher seems to be participating less with the lady that comes to work with him, but he also seems to be getting new sounds, and trying to communicate a bit more. Hopefully with time, we'll be getting a lot more words.

--- 5 ---

As I read those last two takes, I'm still feeling guilt. That maybe it's my fault, that I'm not doing enough to challenge them daily, that maybe I'm not engaging them enough. I know that this is likely not the case, but it's hard to see both of my boys needing some help and not feeling like it must be my fault. 

--- 6 ---

This weekend we are doing a Color Run in Las Animas. Well, I guess technically we're doing a color walk, because we are doing the 2 mile walk. Then, when we get back, Jason is going to do our local breast cancer fundraising run. I'd list the name, but it bothers me because it seems to be making light of an important issue.

--- 7 ---

Fridays are so hard for me with my diet because we don't usually eat meat but it's hard to get protein in on Friday if the only fish you like is tuna salad. So generally I eat meat on Friday but it makes me a bit sad. Any suggestions for high protein, low calorie/carb Friday meals I'm all ears!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

7 Quick Takes (Vol 13)

--- 1 ---

This has been a rough week of workouts. I haven't managed to get up at 5AM to go to the gym most days to get in my cardio. I'm bumped up to 60 minutes daily and she wants me to split that morning and evening, which we thought would be perfect. I could do 1/2 hour on the elliptical in the gym in the morning, then we could do a long bike ride in the evenings. Well, we've managed to do 60 minute bike rides this week anyway.

--- 2 ---

For Christopher's speech therapy appointment on Tuesday the Speech Therapist was here to kind of check in. His normal appointments are with a developmental aide (I think that's what her title is) and then the SLP would come ever 6 visits or something. So, this week she came, and he really seemed to open up. We got several new sounds and he played with her. Today we had our normal appointment but it was early and we hadn't had breakfast yet, so needless to say, he didn't participate that well with her today. I'm hopeful though because it does seem like he is starting to respond and trying to make new sounds more frequently.

--- 3 ---

I know so many people who are pregnant or just had babies. I love it because I love babies, but I'm noticing a little catch, a little bit of pain with every announcement and that is fairly new for me. It's weird, it doesn't diminish my happiness for the couple, or happiness to see that new life...it's almost like a longing. I'm still trying to think less about GETTING pregnant this month so that it is not in my head every day, but it's hard when you want something so bad to not think about it.

--- 4 ---

Jason and I played Cribbage last night and I missed skunking him by like 6 points. It was simultaneously the best hands I've ever had in Cribbage while he had the worst he's ever had. It was a great night! ;-) We used to play a card game almost every night but we've gotten out of the habit, and it's been fun. 

--- 5 ---

Our town has 2 parks locally and one of them is really nice, but the other has seen better days. Well, our town got a grant to get some new, better playground equipment and we are so excited! They will have volunteers putting it together, which kind of makes it more exciting and more "ours". This is the equipment that was chosen.

--- 6 ---

I'm in a food slump. Since my diet is so strict, I'm struggling to find things that I can eat that I want to eat. Mostly I'm eating veggies and meat. The real problem is that I'm not a big veggie fan. Suggestions are welcome!

--- 7 ---

Since we signed up with the state and the city and are now an official business, we needed to organize things a bit better. So we set up a scheduling calendar using Google Apps, and let's just say, it was insane to get it so that I could set up the appointments from my phone and Jason would get a notification on his phone. We got it...but it was not easy!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Life's Blessings

Christopher James



Dominic Matthew

Well we are now officially a family of four. Jason has had last week and this week off work and we are really enjoying our time together.

Christopher James Spano made his appearance on Friday August 19, 2011 at 8:24AM. He weighed 8# and was 20" long. He was born at 37 weeks 3 days gestation and we were happy to make it that far! He still has the light hair that covers babies in the womb, lanugo, on his back and arms and legs. Hopefully that comes off or we'll have to blame his dad's Italian heritage. ;-) He definitely has his daddy's skin coloring,  whereas Dominic was cursed...er..blessed with his momma's. I think he looks like a darker version of Dominic but seem to be the only one who thinks that. I will let you judge.

We are definitely feeling blessed at this time as we enjoy the our newest little one and Dominic's antics. :) He is learning changing so much every day!