Jewel-8

I can't see any pictures because my stupid work blocks everything.

But I am so happy for you Jewel - how exciting! And boy that went fast - 4 to an 8 and you weren't screaming down the walls? I think you're a better woman than me.

I think it was pure luck. A small part of it was doing Hypnobabies as my prenatal class for the middle kid. This labor really barely hurt at all besides one contraction when I was at 10 and they had to move the 'lip' that was keeping his head from being able to move down. I only freaked out as he was crowning and said "I CAN'T DO THIS." They laughed at me, then told me to breath. It was over within 3 minutes after I said that though. His shoulders got stuck. Thank goodness for having really good people there to take care of me or it would have been a much longer and more painful labor.

We had a baby. It's a boy.

Now we are done having babies, yay!!!! My oldest is turning 11 this month and my other two are 19 months apart.

This last labor was crazy easy. We hired midwives for a home birth and I felt like I was starting labor nearly daily from 36 weeks on. When I was checked during the 'false' labor I was always at a 4. At 39 weeks on the day I actually had him I begged the midwife to come over because things felt different, but I was definitely not in hard labor as contractions were sporadic still. Two midwives showed up and I was at an 8(!!!!) with still no horrible pain. The exam must have helped set things off because they went to mail a package and I called them with real labor when they were on their way back. About 45 minutes later he was here.

Can you see any of these pictures?

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/385875_10200630288017005_1088992109_n.jpg

Little miss attitude a.k.a. photobomber!

Tracy, just another years until Preschool and things should look up!! It's too bad you don't have more friends you trust nearby that also have kids who will exchange babysitting with you. (I feel like I'm in somewhat the same situation because I leave for work within an hour of my husband getting home. We make due with me just having PT hours because FT would just ruin my health.)

Gemma, that's cute! I think you hit the nail on the head with bloating. That is always one of my top complaints about the first trimester. Not really showing, but clothes just don't fit - very blah!

We had the ultrasound on Friday and asked not to know, but even though the tech didn't say anything we could still tell. A bit obvious

while she was getting the leg measurements and it kept flapping around. Geez!

Besides that they said the baby is healthy. They did ask if anyone had ever told me that I have a heart shaped uterus. Kind of shocking to find out after several pregnancies, two healthy deliveries and probably a dozen ultrasounds during it all. It could explain the miscarriages if the embryos implanted in that area and blood flow wasn't adequate.

Depending on how bad the septum actually is it might also explain why my son came at 36 weeks and my daughter was breech during most of the 3rd trimester. So this time around I know I need to start on the Vitamin C supplements to avoid my water breaking early like it did with the first, and make sure I get to chiropractor and acupuncturist if there are signs of the baby being breech again. I must have a very minor issue if I've made it to 36 and 37 weeks though. My friend has a more severe case and hasn't ever made it past 32.

Haven't check in for awhile. Glad to hear your sister seems to be doing well!! My sister is definitely pregnant with twins and I think she is about 14 weeks right now. I am at about 19 and have my anatomy scan tomorrow. I don't think we're finding out the gender, but I still think it's important to get all the measurements and make sure everything that needs to be there is.

We had Rozzie's pictures done about a month ago for her 1 year (a couple months late!) and got them back right before our trip back to the UK. She has even longer hair now and I'm not sure what to do with it. I can't bring myself to trim it yet.

Tracy, I hope things go much smoother when she turns 3 and you can get her into preschool. Since my husband and I work opposite shifts I can understand the exhaustion. My husband won't even wake up in the middle of the night if she cries so I have to do my post shift wind down nearby. Right now I'm sitting in my master bedroom closet with my laptop and my textbook that I should be reviewing for my final tomorrow. Internet is more interesting hands down though.

Hi - me again. Mostly lurker - sometime poster. I always seem to miss this thread. I think I get diverted too much by the drama in some of the other forums (better than a soap opera)

Exciting to have new UK/US babies on the way and pleased to see how well everyone is getting on.

Little G has her first day at pre-school tomorrow (I say day - it's 2 hours, twice a week) I'm really looking forward to some 'me' time. First real opportunity in two years! Hubby asked me if I was going to do chores and stuff - what? No way mister. Coffee and cake with some of the other mothers this time. And next week I am already planning going to the gym and swimming.

I should use the chance to catch up with some work - I work from home while looking after G and it's getting harder to concentrate. Maybe the following week I'll do that.

hahahahaha, my husband gets so pissed when the house is a mess. I work part-time and take half a full course load every semester. It shouldn't matter that he makes bank and I make peanuts. I shouldn't be the ONLY one that gets things taken care of around here, but I am. When we go visit his parents next week I really hope he steps out of line in front of them and his dad puts him in his place.

btw, 15 weeks tomorrow. The 12 week ultrasound was very promising, might get the anatomy scan at about 18 or 19 when we get back. Thinking of not finding out the gender this time either. Harder with a winter baby in a harsh climate though.

Roz has been waking up in the middle of the night still and she is 13 months. My husband has been giving her Dumdum suckers though... he is in so much trouble.

I definitely think our fussiness and night time issues are food related. We tried to switch to milk last Wednesday and by Friday it was not going well. Signs of lactose intolerance - never had issues with diapers not containing before!! So we are back to formula and going to start sampling yogurt instead soon.

As far as RozzieII, I had a scan on Tuesday and it was jumping all over the place. I am 12 weeks today. Not nearly as sick as my other pregnancies.

More importantly, I'm not worried about how it is going to affect my sister who lost a nearly full-term baby when she was 16 and then tried for years and years to get pregnant. She is 35 now (...so over 18 years of infertility and a marriage that didn't work out with them both having fertility issues as part of the problem), and we just found out she is 7 weeks pregnant with TWINS with her new boyfriend of 3 months. I am so excited. She is freaked out about him being in shock still, but I feel like pointing out he is not what's important right now. I am so bad, lol! I've just wished this for her for so long.

OMG, he's so cute and little. Is it just a heat rash? What baby wash are you using? Roz had a temporary heat rash on her back last month, but it went away pretty quickly. I'm not sure what it was, but the dr wasn't worried. When she was born I was super conservative with the baby wash and she ended up getting a type of yeast rash. The midwife told me to use more soap and it went away. Oddest thing ever!

Never thought I'd hear that for YOU!!!! Awesome! I second the folic acid. Vitamins are super important to start 2-3 months before trying if you can. Alcohol depletes folic acid, so some of us need it much more than others. Especially if we like a glass of something with dinner before the double lines - just saying! *innocent look*

Anya is so cute! She looks big to me! How old now? Roz just turned a year and isn't even 17 pounds. Anya almost looks like she is about the same size.

Roz loves her stroller and will sit and chill out in it for hours if we go over to the neighbors for BBQs and such. My husband is always taking her out to drink at my cousin's house down the street while I'm at work because she is happy to just stay in the stroller as long as she gets attention.

We're all doing really well here. My husband and I are leaving the kids with my brother's wife tomorrow and going to Denver overnight. Absolutely scary to be away from Roz overnight for the first time ever. This will be good practice for when we go on our UK trip mid-September and leave her with my MIL for a wedding and some sightseeing.

She's not walking yet, but stands up and twists around quite a bit for fun. I hope she is walking when we get there because she'll be 14 months by then and my MIL wants to buy her a good pair of shoes and a winter coat. It would help if I ever put her down, but you know.. only baby I have had for a long time since my son is 9 years older than her. It will be interesting to see if #3 walks sooner than the other 2 because I'll be so much busier.

Card received in the mail today. We will most likely not be filing for naturalization anytime soon because we are expecting another baby and I might transition to being home with the kids 100% during that time frame. It just doesn't seem urgent right now.

I received an email today letting me know the card has been mailed. It usually doesn't take long to get things from CA. Our trip is in 8 weeks so there are no worries that we will have it before we go now.

LMAO!! Motherhood sure changes people. Always for the better of course. Glad he is sleeping well and you have no problems with your milk! I always have trouble producing so although I always wished to be on the other side of the spectrum I'm sure it's just as hard.

Do you get up and pump? I had a coworker who would get up at 2 am to pump even though her baby slept through the night. The kid was so big though!

I was expecting August as well. It is very encouraging to see Ollie get approved because it meant the rest of us will see them coming through during the next few weeks.

Today is a big day!!!! We woke up and wished Roslyn a happy birthday!! Tomorrow we are doing cake and things. Pictures will follow.

Then we headed into town for a doctors appointment. I had a miscarriage in May and then some abnormal test results so I needed to follow up with those. Not only did we find out it was probably nothing, but we confirmed that I was pregnant again!!! Woot!!

Not that I didn't know, just that I wasn't getting too excited until we saw a heartbeat. We did!!

Now I was napping on the couch and got a text to check my case status for Removal of conditions. I freaked out a bit because I thought that meant interview or RFE, but card production has been ordered!!!

I knew I was right picking the 13th for my daughter's bday!! Friday the 13ths are f'ing amazing!!!

BIG DAY FOR US!!!!! First we woke up and wished out daughter a happy first birthday. Then we went to the doctor to confirm a pregnancy and saw our next baby on ultrasound. Now I have found out that we can have 10 more years in the US without having to worry about filing anything with USCIS!!!! When it rains it pours - good things!!

California Service Center (26 applicants, 1 approved 7.7%)

VJName............Date of I-751......NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CAPSLOCK88..........01/30/12.........02/06/12.......02/27/12........--/--/--....

JUSTFORU............01/31/12.........02/03/12.......03/09/12........--/--/--....

SCABBAGE29..........02/03/12.........02/06/12.......04/11/12........--/--/--....

SCIENCENERD.........02/04/12.........02/06/12.......03/20/12........--/--/--....

MARITONI............02/05/12.........02/08/12.......02/24/12........--/--/--....

SMORESANDBOB........02/06/12.........--/--/12.......02/24/12........--/--/--....(No NOA yet/got I-551 Stamp during Biometrics appointment! )

MSG.................02/06/12.........02/??/12.......03/08/12........--/--/--....

STEVIEG2123.........02/07/12.........02/09/12.......03/08/12........--/--/--....

MIRANDA&JOHN........02/09/12.........02/13/12.......03/08/12........--/--/--....

JAJO08..............02/10/12.........02/13/12.......03/14/12........--/--/--....

ANN MARIE AND LEO...02/10/12.........02/15/12.......03/09/12........--/--/--....

AKOCHI..............02/11/12.........02/13/12.......03/20/12........--/--/--....

MAE232..............02/11/12.........02/13/12.......03/08/12........--/--/--....

JEWEL-8.............02/12/12.........02/15/12.......03/19/12........07/13/12....

NIGERIAORBUST.......02/13/12.........02/16/12.......03/02/12........--/--/--....

GARY_UK.............02/13/12.........02/15/12.......03/14/12........--/--/--....

RYAN_AND_PRISCY.....02/14/12.........02/16/12.......03/29/12........--/--/--....

ZAHRASALEM..........02/15/12.........02/16/12.......03/19/12........--/--/--....

OLLIE...............02/18/12.........02/23/12.......03/19/12........07/11/12....(Early Bio 03/12: tried to reschedule at infopass appointment and they allowed to do bio on the spot)

BINGO2000...........02/20/12.........02/21/12.......03/23/12........--/--/--....

KASUN7DISSANAYAKA...02/21/12.........02/27/12.......03/16/12........--/--/--....

USMOMO..............02/23/12.........--/--/12.......04/06/12........--/--/--....(Never recieved NOA)

USJANY..............02/24/12.........03/13/12.......04/27/12........--/--/--....

DANU................02/27/12.........02/28/12.......03/30/12........--/--/--....

W&S.................02/27/12.........02/29/12.......04/04/12........--/--/--....

DANIG...............02/28/12.........03/01/12.......04/12/12........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (25 applicants, 1 approved 4%)

VJName............Date of I-751......NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CJBLACK.............01/30/12.........02/02/12.......03/09/12........--/--/--....

DONEWAITING.........01/31/12.........02/02/12.......03/09/12........--/--/--....

MIMAYU..............--/--/--.........--/--/--.......03/02/12........--/--/--/... (needs to be moved when we have I-751 date)

MINAADI.............02/01/12.........02/06/12.......02/24/12........--/--/--....

PLATANOKING.........02/01/12.........02/03/12.......03/30/12........--/--/--....

THINK~PINK..........02/02/12.........02/06/12.......02/27/12........--/--/--....

JACK25..............02/06/12.........02/09/12.......03/08/12........--/--/--....

JOSHUE..............02/10/12.........02/14/12.......03/16/12........--/--/--....(Early Bio 03/07)

MFORD019............02/11/12.........02/15/12.......03/12/12........05/30/12....(Interview letter received 05/03 for 05/16)(expedite for coming deployment)(card received 06/04)

MSSHEKA.............02/11/12.........02/??/12.......03/13/12........--/--/--....

BERN................02/13/12.........02/17/12.......03/23/12........--/--/--....

DIRTYWEEBESOM.......02/13/12.........02/15/12.......03/26/12........--/--/--....(Early Bio 03/07)

ROYALET.............02/13/12.........02/16/12.......03/22/12........--/--/--....

DSMIAMI.............02/14/12.........02/21/12.......03/23/12........--/--/--....

LADY-ALONE..........02/15/12.........02/17/12.......04/04/12........--/--/--....(Divorce Waiver)

AND_SAM.............02/16/12.........02/22/12.......04/18/12........--/--/--....

BILL & LIZA.........02/16/12.........02/21/12.......04/19/12........--/--/--....

ELGHAZI2008.........02/17/12.........02/22/12.......03/19/12........--/--/--....

IIOGHERKIN..........02/18/12.........02/22/12.......04/02/12........--/--/--....(Early Bio 03/15) Interview Letter 05/08 for 06/11. Same day as 319(b) naturalization interview

MAV_1975............02/20/12.........02/24/12.......03/23/12........--/--/--....

ME&HER..............02/21/12.........02/24/12.......04/11/12........--/--/--....

MOON1982............02/22/12.........02/27/12.......03/29/12........--/--/--....

LAURA_AND_KYLE......02/25/12.........02/28/12.......05/01/12........--/--/--....

MIKE B..............02/27/12.........02/29/12.......04/25/12........--/--/--....

MRAHMAN.............02/27/12.........02/29/12.......04/25/12........--/--/--....

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OMG!!!! I just got a text to check status, and when I logged into my email it said card production ordered on 7/13!!!!

Congrats ollie!! This is wonderful news for all of us.

January has SO many approvals for CSC. They seem to be almost on par with December at this point. I'm hopeful that we will begin to hear about February CSC approvals soon. It'd be great to get it sometime in August because we have an trip planned to go home in September.

1cm dilated and 70%effaced!!! 21 days left and I am soooooooo ready!!!!!

I love the 37 week mark. Not much longer!!!

We just bought our tickets to travel overseas during September. I will have to check to see if my husband has a stamp, but hopefully we will have the 10 year green card by then anyways.

hiya! 7 weeks left for me and dude is head down and wreaking all kinds of havoc on my cervix. ugh. Good to hear little Roz is finally gaining weight! We'll be flying with our little dude in the fall for Xmas in UK. a 6 month old lap baby with Delta. Kinda worried about it but eh, what can you do??

I hope the newest little addition is doing ok (Rachel!).

Not much longer for you!! This is going to be so exciting. I can't wait to see his pictures, though I hope it's at least not for 3 more weeks for his(and your!) sake. Are you getting some naps in?

I still get woke up once or twice a night to a hungry baby. Before I come to bed at night I put formula in dry bottles and leave those with a jug of baby water in the master bathroom. Then when it's needed I just use the pour in the water, mix it, pop it in playpen next to the baby and go back to my own bed to pass out. I know I shouldn't, but at 9 months she is good about taking the bottle out of her own mouth before she goes back to sleep.

We're still sleep deprived, but it's working for us. I decided that since it looks like we won't have a solid nights sleep for years anyways we might as well have two babies close together. I feel I should anyways since my first two were 9 years apart and I always felt bad he never had a playmate. Husband is on board with that as well so we want to space them only 2 years apart. I hope we're not getting into something too crazy with this.

Who are you flying with? I'm on my 4th trip home since Georgie was born - decided to make this last trip before she turns 2 in June and she can still be a lap baby.

Last trip was BA and we had one of the bulkhead seats with the little bassinet they provide. This time was United and the plane was empty so we had a full row to ourselves which was a bonus.

Not looking forward to the huge price hike when she has to have a seat.

We decided to go with United. Salt Lake to Edinburgh is $990 for an adult in September and it seems her fare is only $114 including tax. Still seems like a lot for a 15 month old lap child. My 10 year old's ticket was still 90% of the adult fare. I guess I should be happy for the small discount!

How has it been flying with her?

Helllloooooooo???? UPDATES?!?!?!

Roz is finally gaining weight again. She is back in the 2nd percentile. We just bought our tickets to go to the UK in the fall. For the 4 of us it is just under $3k with baby sitting on my lap. Not sure yet if I will regret that. We will see!!!

AWWWW! Those pictures are so cute they make me want another one!! How did you catch the photo of her sticking her tongue out?

Congratulations! She is gorgeous. Welcome to the world Annaleah!

Anyday now!!! Can't wait to see pictures!

You will be surprised at how much lighter you are a week post partum. Most of what I gained the last month was swelling and as soon as my milk came in my blood pressure went back to my normal prepregnancy level and the extra fluid was gone. Woosh!

Serioously, what seems excessive during the last couple weeks is nothing if you know you've been ok up until now.