Womb with a view

Yesterday we had our big ultrasound and got our first real look at Baby 2! Since my appointment was with a Maternal Fetal Specialist he was kind enough to switch over to 3D mode which made me feel a little better about the $40 co-pay that went along with his services.

He was playing peek a boo!

There HE is!! Yep, another boy, at least we are 99% sure. The cord was also laying between his legs so it was hard to get a clear picture but we all thought we saw his little boy part. (BTW, it really irritates my husband that I call it his "little" thing)

I am overjoyed that it is a little boy for a number of reasons...

#1- Now I know we are more likely to try for a 3rd at some point which is the number of kids we always talked about. Though this next one won't be anytime soon. I think if we had a girl this time around we probably would have stopped.

#2-Practically speaking, this works out AMAZING!! Since this little boy will be born a week or so after Jack we have all the same clothes, in the same season!!

#3-We only have a 2 bedroom house so this makes room sharing a little easier.

#4-To be honest, parenting a girl, more specifically a teenage girl, scares the living crap out of me.

Of course I realize that with 2 little boys on the loose, my dreams of a clean, well styled home are probably for naught but I guess I just have to roll with the punches! Now it's time to get down to business and think of names. Ironically, we really haven't thought of boys names only ones for a girl. I'm accepting suggestions!!!

On the health front everything looks good with Baby 2's development. As far as I go, I haven't heard anything yet about my test results so I am assuming no news is good news. I go next week for my regular appointment so I'll know more then.

Also...I am looking for guest posters!! If you are interested please email me at mamainsomnia@gmail.com
I am also interested in guest posting, so if you want a break from blogging let me know. I really want to get back into the routine of posting regularly again and sometimes knowing you have to write for someone else is more enticing than actually writing for yourself! 

Update

I don't know that I'd consider this an official post but rather a shout out to let you guys know that I'm still here, even though I haven't posted much lately.

As most of you know I am pregnant with baby #2. This pregnancy has been very different from my first and I am trying my best to adjust to that. Recently, I was having eye troubles and saw a specialist about it. I learned I had a small clot in my retinal artery. Because of this I now have to have a series of tests to see if this was just a one time deal or a part of a bigger blood disorder. I am trying not jump to any conclusions until all the tests come back, but as any mother knows this is sometimes hard to do.
Also making things stressful is my insurance company. Since these tests are expensive and not considered a part of routine care, they have to be pre-authorized. So I have spent the last week and a half on the phone back and forth with my doctors office and insurance company trying to figure out if they would cover these tests.

All the stress of that has run me down folks.

Lately all I feel is sick.
I am nauseous. I have no appetite. And my body aches.

Most days I wonder what the cause of all this ickiness is.
Stress?
Is it just the pregnancy wearing me down?
Is it because of my lack of sleep due to the fact that my husband snores all night and our mattress is way beyond it's "best by" date?
Am I feeling this way due to some disorder I have??

So that, my friends, is why I haven't posted much. The energy that I do have most days is saved for a cute little man with his mama's blue eyes. And whatever is left after that goes to my understanding and extremely helpful husband.
Honestly, some days the computer is the last thing on my mind. Especially the thought of sitting down and typing something. But I am still here. And I love reading all your posts and commenting on them when I can.

I am hoping that these tests give me some answers in the next few weeks so that I can go back to feeling like myself again. Until then, I'll post when I can!

9 to 5

Some people live and die by a routine.
Not me.
While there are times that I long for a routine that I can set my watch to, my work schedule has always been outside the normal Monday thru Friday routines of the rest of the working world.

I have always worked retail or hospitality, so my hours are all over the place. A night here, a day here, and almost always a weekend day (or two) (or night). Perhaps the worst part is that the days and nights change from week to week. So I can't even count on the same day's off every week.
And because my husband also works these hours, our lives are a little unconventional.

We do not live or die by a routine.
We can't. We have no choice.
And sometimes it is hard.

It's hard to make plans with people who live in a 9-5 world because they like to do things on weekends, when we usually work.

It's hard to plan, well, pretty much anything, because our schedules are not set. So things like planning weekly dinners and signing Jack up for classes at the local park district are hard for us to work out with our ever changing schedules.

It's hard to find time together. We are not weekend warriors. Home Improvement projects take 3 times the time they should because on the rare days we have the same day off, the last thing we want to do is more work.

Some day's we barely see each other. At least not awake. One of us is usually coming or going while the rest of the house sleeps.
To "go away for the weekend" requires months of planning and coordinating of schedules. There are no spontaneous trips.

But we make due.
And after years of fighting it and being jealous of all you 9-5er's out there, I've come to the realization that there are perks to living off the working worlds grid.

Like the fact that Monday's are actually quite nice for me. I don't loathe them like most of the world. As a matter of fact, I quite like them. Monday's are one of the only day's I never work, so while the rest of the world is starting their week, I'm enjoying a nice relaxing day at home.

Also, I get to shop, eat, and run errands while most of you are at the office. That makes for shorter lines and smaller crowds.

I get to spend more time with my son and get most of my work in while he is sleeping.

I get to sleep in more often. Since we both sometimes work late nights, we often rotate who gets up early with Jack.
&
I often miss rush hour traffic.

My husband and I carve out what precious time we can find together. Sometimes this means eating take-out in bed and catching up on our DVR. But we do what we can.

Maybe someday we'll join the rest of you in the 9-5 world, but for now I'm planning a trip to the zoo.
It's so much quieter on Weekday mornings.

What is your schedule like?? How do you make it work?

Fighting Back

“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.”
-Robert Kennedy

This month marks an anniversary.
One that isn't meant to be celebrated.
In fact, it's one I wish I never had to acknowledge.
10 years ago this month, I lost a friend.

In college, like most girls on the brink of independence, I was oblivious. I lived in a bubble. And in that bubble was me, my friends & family. I only concerned myself with really important issues. Like what to wear and what to do that night.

Carefree.That's what college should be right?
I mean that and all the school work stuff of course.
But then the real world comes and smacks you right in the face.
It shakes you.
And sometimes in the cruelest way.

On June 12th 2001 my beautiful friend Shannon McNamara was murdered.
Horribly. Horrifically.
I still feel shaken when I think about it.
I won't go into details here. Truthfully, I try and keep those thoughts tucked away.
I prefer not to let those moments cloud my memories of Shannon.
But there is one detail of that tragedy that I will never forget...

She Fought.
She fought so hard for her life that she was able to tell the police who murdered her.

She fought so hard that she inspired a fellow sorority sister to keep fighting in her name.

This week I am honoring my friend Shannon by introducing you all to the cause she inspired...

Girls Fight Back

Girls Fight Back was founded by Erin Weed and is an incredible resource for women of all ages. GFB burst bubbles. But in a good way. They say,  "Hey, there are bad people out there...but you don't have to be a victim".

Since it's inception in 2001, Erin has traveled the country speaking to women about self defense and fighting back. Girls Fight Back has been featured on the CBS Early Show, CNN and Erin was even awarded the Hometown Hero Award on the John Walsh show. She and her team of amazing speakers hold seminars and visit colleges, high schools and corporations all over the country. The educate. They empower. They give hope.

I encourage you to head on over to http://www.girlsfightback.com/ and browse around. There is a wealth of information about their mission as well as links to programs in your area. Watch a video about how to use Pepper Spray or browse the store and pick up the Girls Fight Back DVD or Book. They make perfect graduation gifts for girls going off to college in the fall!

And please link up with Girls Fight Back and help spread the word!

Subscribe to the Girls Fight Back Blog
"Like" Girls Fight Back on Facebook
Follow @Girlsfightback on Twitter

Weekly Wrap 6/3

It's Friday and that means its time for the Weekly Wrap.
I've decided to keep the name because I figure this post is like a little present...all the best posts out in one easy to find spot.
I even made a little picture:

Try to contain yourself as you awe at my fanciness.

Now on to the best posts of the week...

*Sherri over at Old Tweener's post And Then She Was A Mom will tug at your heart strings. If you need a dose of something lighthearted after that check out her post on Flash Mobs.

*Ever wanted to know more about your favorite bloggers? Every Monday Jessica over at Four Plus An Angel hosts The Hot Seat where a featured blogger answers all your questions.

*Have you joined Vlog Talk yet?? Vlog talk is the brainchild of Kate from Mommy Monologues, Jessica from My Time As A Mom and Elena from Mommy is in Timeout. Each week they offer 3 prompts and a link up every Monday night. This week I mustered up the guts to do one and talked about the time I almost killed myself on vacation...AKA my honeymoon. You should also go visit Tracy at Sellabitmum. Her Vlogs are epic...this week she rapped. About her garden. Do I really need to go on?

*Want to know what it's like to be an outcast? Head over to Good Day, Regular People and read the Empress' post on Being A Source Of Embarrasment To Your Kids. Reading it made me grateful for the days that Jack clings to me and asks me to read him his Elmo book for the 423rd time.

Spot a great post out there?? Email me at mamainsomnia@gmail.com and let me know!!

Happy Reading!!