Our daughter’s beginning was as gentle and calm as any mother could hope for. That would change all too quickly, as my precious girl was transferred to the hospital. Fear raced through us as the midwives shared what they suspected – that she was not a typical baby – she was a baby with Down Syndrome.
I’m very pleased and feel very blessed to be announcing that we recently added another Baby Dino to our family. BUT, you read that right, both babies #2 and #3 each deserve an announcement, and what is funny is I didn’t have twins. I’ve just been that busy. In 2019, we welcomed Lil’ Dino2 into the world. He is now a walking…no, RUNNING toddler, who never stops! He’s funny and affectionate and keeps us on our toes. A few months ago, we also welcomed Lil’ Dina3 into our family. She’s feisty and sweet and her big brothers are totally lovestruck. Lil’ Dino1, now 5 years old is a “big boy” and extremely helpful and entertaining.
I’m dully excited because I have wanted to write a series of posts on pregnancy, and seeing as my last pregnancy is still fresh on my mind, there’s no better time to share my insights with all of you!
For all three of my pregnancies, the ugly beast of morning sickness reared it’s head. And it rarely lived up to its name, as it’s not specific to morning time. There were days I felt nauseous all day long, with my worst bouts being in the afternoon. According to americanpregnancy.org, more than 50% of women experience morning sickness, and of those women, about 30% experience vomiting as well.
Some things that helped me through this tough time, were:
I could probably write a whole new post on Fatigue, but I thought it deserved honorable mention here since it was unexpected and kept me down for more than half of my pregnancy while pregnant with Lil’ Dina3. With both of my boys, I had the nausea and it was manageable, only lasting through 1st trimester, subsiding gradually starting around 11 weeks as I approached 2nd trimester. Then like clockwork, I hit 14 weeks and it was gone, with only the occasional food aversion or heartburn creeping up now and then.
Lil’ Dina was a whole new experience. The fatigue I had with her, starting about 8 weeks pregnant, was debilitating. With Lil’ Dino2, I was on the go constantly, keeping up with Lil’ Dino1 and enjoying the movement and activity I had been fearful of with my first pregnancy. I expected the nausea during 1st trimester, and then expected to get back to normal, being there and being active with my older two children.
Well, we never have it figured out, do we? I laid on the couch from the moment I woke up, powering through to feed my kids and change Lil’ Dino2’s diapers. It was a horrible feeling, not being able to do what I longed to do. As I neared my 2nd trimester, it was not subsiding (though the nausea eventually did, but never fully).
A friend reached out to check on me. My dear friend has had 11 children, and when I told her I was good, except for the fatigue was awful, she told me to take Liquid Chlorophyll. I didn’t even question her, but looked for it immediately at our local grocery store health supplement section. There it was, and it even had a mint flavored one. Two birds with one stone, as they say.
I poured it into my water, then sent her a message, “My water is green.” She said, “Yep, it will turn other things green too! Hahaha!” Oh joy, I thought, and unenthusiastically drank half my green, potion-looking water. To say the “perk up” that ensued was immediate is not an overstatement. I felt better than I had my entire pregnancy with Lil’ Dina3. I was able to get off the couch and stay off for a while. Amazing!
Here is a website that lists the benefits of chlorophyll.
Here are some benefits worth highlighting:
I’m not sure which of these benefits helped me with debilitating pregnancy fatigue, but I’m so grateful that it did!
Helpful tip if you do take it while your pregnant, buy an extra bottle and put it in your “go” bag. Then drink it ALL right after you have the baby. Some people are champs and can do it all right away. I wasn’t so tough, and took my time throughout Day 1. For an anecdotal, I had less postpartum bleeding, more energy, and less afterbirth pains than with my two previous labor and birthing experiences.
Now three months later, I’m still drinking it about every other day, especially when I need a pick me up!
What remedies have you found helpful for nausea and fatigue during pregnancy? Are there supplements you just won’t be without? How do they help you?
“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22
Already had your baby? See this post about breastfeeding! You CAN do it!
Before your child even gets a chance to utter those annoying “I’m so bored” rants on rainy summer days, be sure to prepare yourself with some options. Visiting local children’s museums, indoor trampoline parks, or your local library to join the summer reading club are all great options, but you can also create plenty of fun right in your dry, cozy home. Try tapping into your child’s love of technology, and use a tablet or computer to enjoy these great online activities.
A most exciting dentist visit. I have to admit, as someone who has had a chipped tooth, braces, and headgear, and a retainer, I’ve had many experiences with people working inside my mouth. Nothing was more eventful than this simple cleaning I had today!
Have you been pulling yourself hair out trying to figure out how to make your kids listen to you? What if there was a way to reach them to obey BEFORE you got frustrated or angry?
Do your kids spend their weekends staring at screens?
Well, you may be surprised to know that too much screen time can actually be bad for their health. That’s one of the reasons it is so important for children to spend time discovering new hobbies. More than just a way to burn time, hobbies can provide stress relief, help little minds develop and even be beneficial for their health. Need some ideas to get your kids started? Here are some hobbies guaranteed to get them away from those screens and having actual fun instead.
Counting Ones Blessings Can Never Be Overdone
My son is almost 2 years old now, and I am feeling extremely blessed for a variety of things.
I could go on and on about how intelligent my son is and praise God he is hitting every milestone. I am thankful for his very life! Which, admittedly, he challenges me to save nearly every day as he tests out his ever growing strength and physical capabilities. And I’m so very grateful for…
A couple years ago, while I was pregnant, I had a strong urge to nest and prepare for the arrival of my baby. One of the ways I wanted to prepare was by decorating the nursery.
I wanted to take a practical, cost-effective approach to setting up the nursery, starting with organization. There are so many cute and unique ways to decorate and organize at the same time! (Just look at Pinterest!) One of these ways is by using fabric storage bins to put on shelves, in closets, or even in drawers (hey, baby clothes are tiny!).
Fabric storage bins help to add color and life to a bookshelf or hutch. I knew I wanted to get some to decorate with, but when I priced them out, I quickly decided I wanted to try my hand at making my own.
Hobbies That Benefit Kids
As parents, we want to help our kids make the best choices for their success. And one of the best things we can do is to help them choose is good hobbies. Hobbies are more than just a pastime. They have real benefits that help children grow into mature adults. Let’s learn what those benefits are and which hobbies are best.
I Didn’t Enter Into Motherhood Gracefully
It finally happened. 15 months. I had time. Not long. Just a few minutes where I could do whatever I wanted.
And you know what happened? I hadn’t a clue what to do with myself!
If I’ve learned anything since my son was brought into this world, it’s that I have to give myself a lot of grace. I’m not very good at that. I want to be SuperMom and somehow anything short of that makes me feel guilty.
I want to keep a perfectly neat and tidy home. (The true disillusion is thinking I really did this even BEFORE beginning my parenthood journey!)
I want to have energy to do the 272 projects on my list, including sewing, and crafting, and learning new skills.
I want to invest in all my family and friendships and have a freezer meal prepped for every occasion and be able to give my time. The saying, “It’s the thought that counts” has never meant more to me than it does in this phase of life.
The truth is, my house is a mess. The dogs don’t get the same attention they did before my son was born, granted now that he’s old enough, they get love from my son too. I am not the greatest or most present friend these days. I’m not as helpful at get-togethers as I used to be. I feel tired and unmotivated often, especially in the evenings after my baby boy is asleep.
