Workin' on the Work

Well, we are finally getting back in the swing of things...only a few hitches along the way! I am back to work (at home that is), the big AJ is back at school part time and little AJ is home with me. The little one is sick, sick , sick! He has RSV right now and we just started breathing treatments in an effort to make it a little easier for him to breath. So far so good! I feel like we were sick the entire month of December and off to a great start of being sick the entire month of January. I pray we are all better soon and things will start to get a little easier.

Now that I am off bedrest and starting to have some sort of a schedule (as fractured as it may be), I can't wait to start working on the work again! We have come a long way with #1 in the last few months. He is FINALLY starting to call the colors by their names instead of by their train color which is a HUGE step in the right direction. Now, we are working on counting. For some reason #1 has no problem counting to three, but then he either starts over or skips to nine. He is such a nut. Needless to say, I am starting to put together some learning games to help him with counting,patterns, predicting and soon the alphabet. They will obviously be train centered, but I will share once I have them all completed!

The Time Has Arrived...It's a...BOY!

(Picture courtesy of Delfina K. Photography An amazing photographer!)

We welcomed Baby Arion Jacob Rakic on Monday, October 25th at 6:03AM. He was 7lbs 7oz and 19 inches long!

He is an amazing baby. Quiet, sweet and a great sleeper...already noticably different than his older brother.

Arion's Birth Story:

After a number of trips to Labor and Delivery in the preceding weeks, I didn't take my contractions very seriously when they started on Sunday night. I have been having contractions on and off for weeks. These contractions seemed no different! Contractions 5-6 minutes apart for about an hour, but not intensifying. I figured it was just going to be another obnoxious Sunday night. You know another...Here we go again!

This time was different. After a bit of heavy spotting, the doctor said it was time to come in. She said this time I would be leaving the hospital with a baby...no more false alarms! Thank goodness! So, off we went!

We checked in to the hospital around 11:30 and the contractions started to get closer together and more intense. Yet, contractions were completely manageable. I just had to wait for the pain to plateau. I knew if I stayed focus and relaxed I could manage through them. It was only bad when I was stuck in bed! I was amazed how easy that part was! I never really thought I would go through with a natural delivery...it was more like...if I can I will, but I am not opposed to an epidural! I just had the mentality that "We would take it as it comes"!

After a few rounds of antibiotics and several hours on the birthing ball, it was finally time to push! It was at about this moment that I seriously questioned my decision to go natural...ok ok...I admit it...it was at this moment I started begging my nurses and midwife for some sort of pain meds. Something...ANYTHING! Finally my water broke (completely) and down came baby. The pressure was unforgettable! At that moment I wanted to crawl out of my skin. But, after just 3 rounds of pushing (only 8 minutes) out he popped! Clean as a whistle!

As they rolled him over and prepared Chris to cut the cord is when I spied his little package...there it was...I had another boy! Not the girl I have convinced myself I was having! My hubbie immediately started screaming..."it's a boy! Another Boy...Thank you G~D!" I thought I might be disappointment, but I was pleasantly surprised at how ecstatic I was to have another boy. Although I would love to have a little girl at some point, I would be totally content to have a house full of boys! They are such an amazing blessing!Now, My son was going to have a brother to pal around with! Together they can conquer the world!


My hubbie

Pregnancy Update

Well, I am already 31.4wks preggo. Although in retrospect it has gone by quickly it seems like day to day is passing SO SLOWLY. I wish I could say this was a problem free pregnancy, but no such luck. I have always heard that each pregnancy is different...boy are they right!! Now, the contractions has slowed to a few random contractions every few days. Yet, I am extremely uncomfortable and often get very crampy and sore if I do much of anything. So, although my contractions have calmed, my doctor is keeping me on bedrest.

As if that is not enough, I am anemic again...yeah iron suppliments! Yet that is not the best of it all. This doctors appoitnment revealed my platelet count is down yet again. It is now the lowest it has been much to the dismay of my OB. They are doing some additional research into my pre-preggo levels and my levels during my last pregancy. I now have to get my bloodwork done monthly to see where my levels are at. I will find out later this week or the first of next week if I need to see a specialist.

The major concern is if my platelet count drops below a certain level during delivery my blood may not clot correctly leading to an increased loss of blood. When I asked if it could affect the baby, the dr basically said that that is why we wanted to get things under control now. It may simply require monitoring, or it might require steroid shots and a platlet infusion. I don't really know too much yet, but it definietly does make me nervous and I have way more questions than answers. I just pray everything will be ok for both me and baby!

Room for Construction

My hubbie finally decided it was time to tear up the carpet in AJ's room, so, we now have beautiful (easy to clean) wood floor AND freshly painted walls. Which is a great start to setting up the room for both kids. Now, if I can only get him to finish the baseboards...he has so much free time now..lol! Between taking AJ to school, checking in on his mom, working, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry...I don't think it tops the priority list! Rightfully so!

AJ has a new addition to his room in the form of a giant new Thomas the Tank Engine bed. Something he has totally fallen in love with!!! I guess with a new baby coming everyone needs something new and special.




It has taken me forever to decide on what I wanted for the new nursery since it will be shared with the new Thomas bed. I decided on Dr.Seuss. I mean he is classic and the bright colors will work well with the Thomas blue and red.



I have decided to wait on the quilt since we never used it with AJ. I have a duvet cover already made out of the striped fabric. I think that will be enough. It will make for a great, soft play area for the new baby. Now, all I have to do is wait for the ABC embroidered piece and then I can get my sew on!

It's contractions and bed rest..Oh My!

In one week, I soent 2 days in L&D for monitoring due to pre-term contractions. Let me tell you it was a blast. The first time was due to a positive fibronectin test, the dr called at 3pm on Wednesday and said go immediately for monitoring. Five hours later, I was finally released and sent home on full bedrest. Then, I was having small braxton hicks type contractions, but nothing steady or all too painful. Then, Saturday came around...they started light and progressed in to contractions that had me doubled over in pain. Now, remember this ain't my first rodeo...so, I knew these were cause for concern. Didn't help that I had ignored the drs. orders on Friday and went with my hubbie to pick out a preschool for our son! OOps!

Hubbie was immediately on the phone with my OB, waking up and packing up my son who was to be delivered to the in-laws before a valient sprint to L&D..AGAIN!!! It was a great practice run! We showed up at L&D and it was packed...PACKED!!! Not a single room open, even the triage rooms were full. (It just so happened to be a full moon!) We had to wait over 30 minutes for a room and OF COURSE my contractions stopped by the time I was actually all hooked up. They monitored everything for about 5 hours, ran a ton of tests and ultrasounds. My cervix has shortened to 28mm, which they said can definitely be causing the preterm labor. The nurse said anything less than 30mm prior to 32 weeks can put me at risk.

Needless to say, we were released just after midnight and sent home again obviously on bedrest. I should do nothing other than be in bed and get up to potty. Yeah me! The good news is since I have been actually really good this time around I have not continues to have a very many contractions. At max 3 in an hour...4 in an hour would send me back to the hospital! I can definitely feel the difference though. There are days when even getting up and walking to the fridge seems like a hike!

Monday is my next OB appointment and my hubbie has decided this is one he would like to attend. I am sure they will do more tests, but who knows. Maybe the fact that the bedrest seems to be working and no more trips to L&D will be enough. I doubt I will be off bedrest until we get to the safe weeks (32+). But, I am excited to say I was able to preregister at the hospital today, so, that means we are on count down. 90 days until my due date...I hope they fly by...not too fast though!

I figure this baby just wants to have a birth story that outshines his/her brothers...hence all the complications!

Potty Training Success

Just wanted to send you all a quick update on our overall potty training successes. This is has been a LONG tretcherous war, but one we are finally winning.

First MAJOR Victory: AJ has finally decided that he does not need to pee pee in his carseat any more. So, we are able to go out without a half his wardrobe in the car. He has gone more than a week without any accidents! YEAH!!!

Second MAJOR Victory: Not only is AJ starting to go #2 in the potty...on his own, BUT he has decided he NO LONGER needs to poo poo on the floor! Yes, I said the floor! AJ now has a small potty that we keep in his room and he routinely uses it at nap time..or in the morning before he comes to get us! He actually poo pooed in it on his own during nap time! We were so impressed and super excited that we didn't have to clean a poopy floor! As you can imagine, I am SO OVER poopy floors! Looks like we can finally get new flooring soon!

You might be asking, why does he poop on the floor...your guess is as good as mine. He started taking his diaper off (even when in a onesie) when he was 14 mo old...hence the early start to potty training. Even now, he outright refuses to wear a diaper (at night or during naps). Luckily, he overall is waking up dry from naps and even overnight!

So, finally we have made some MAJOR progress over the last few weeks! Looks like he finally turned the corner! Keeping my fingers crossed! I am so ready to be DONE potty training...I was praying we would be done before the new baby...looks like my dreams may come true!

Diaper, Diapers Everywhere!

At least that is what my husband is saying! You see, in our small little house there is no room for a craft room or nook. So, instead, I have small card table that I house my sewing machines on when I am working and a few crates for all my fabric and remnants. Yet, the bar top is still covered currently with pattern pieced, stacks of finished diapers, cut pieces waiting to be sew, supplies, ect... I could go on, but I think you get the point!

AJ has learned rather quickly he is not allowed to touch mommies sewing table or any scissors. He is very respectful of that...although I know all those knobs on my machines must be rather tempting!

So, in regards to all those new diapers...here are a few I have crafted recently. I would love to sew and sell at some point, but I am not there yet!
(Sorry for the side shots...I hate that the program automatically rotates to what IT thinks!)

This is a Darling Diaper Unlimited AIO.


These are a mix of covers and pockets! Most of these are Darling Diapers, a few Chloes Toes Side snapping covers and the blue one is a diaper kits pattern.


A close up of the Darling Diaper cover with FOE (Fold over Elastic)!

I will say my favorite new pattern is a the Darling Diaper unlimited. It is very close to the Cloth Revolution pattern, but offers so many more options.
Some options include:
Method of sewing (serging, turned, turning and top stitching),
Choice of closures (snappi, Hook/loop, snap),
Placement of closure (front or side)
Sizing (NB-XL or OS),
Style (AIO or pocket)
Choice of rounded or square tabs.

I prefer square tabs because I find there are not only easier to sew, but also look nicer on the finished product. I also prefer snaps to hook and loop (Velcro). Although snaps do not give you quite as custom a fit, they do hold up better and to not damage any of the other cloth diapers during washing. I have ventured out to making a few one sized diapers...I love this concept, but I am not totally sold on them yet!

I find that the hardest part is figuring out what fabric to use where...especially when you are sewing on a budget. You will see that there are many diapers sew from flannel...many are re purposed flannel receiving blankets. Most of the cotton knit fabric is from Walmart and is $1-$2 per yard. I did splurge on some cute minky fabric while on sale last weekend at Joannes. I have yet to use it though. Figured I would save it until I was feeling 100% with the patterns and sizes. (Definitely not a trial fabric). I am all about keeping the costs down...I want to produce a quality diaper using the most cost effective products...esp. right now while I am at the beginning stages. I am going to start working on some up cycled fitted diapers from t-shirts. I can't wait to get started on those!