You'd think things would get better. Well you thought wrong.
I've tried all your advices and they have provided temporary solutions but it didn't sustain.
My family thought I was exaggerating especially after reading my previous post; my brother came over last night and noticed Ahmed's reactions to everything. It's very hard. He tried distracting him by telling him they'll go to the park but he totally refused because he wanted to stay with me.
I tried involving him in the process of changing diapers and helping with things around the house but it's a no-no.
The other issue is, I am very short tempered these days. I guess it’s the lack of sleep. I just can't take him being spoiled all day. I am still hoping he will get out of it. Jealousy isn't cool!

There are days where things are just bearable and I think they'll get better but they don't. Staying at home all day isn't helpful either.
I am bored to death.
I spend most of my mornings sleeping because Yazi stays up all night. I am trying to fix her sleeping to fit a more reasonable one and I think it's getting better.

New Movies and Series

I've watched TV and now I am watching all the reruns that I've watched before. I ordered many movies off Amazon but I just don't feel like watching TV anymore.

So what happens when you are uaeyah, you are bored to death, and you're stuck at home with lots of free time?
The combination of so much tv (episodes of clean house and the biggest loser) starts acting up. You start cleaning and working out.

I found clothes with their tags- funny thing is: I bought them years ago! and never wore 'em!

Oh My God! I drove the maids crazy in the past couple of days. I donated more than half of my wardrobe to charity. I threw out many cosmetics cuz they've been sitting there like forever!
I redecorated my dressing room. Got rid of some shoes and cleaned up. It's spring cleaning a tad late.

So now that I am done with the cleaning; I am busy getting myself back in shape. With Ahmed I didn't really care. It took me almost 14 months to do something about it.
Now, I am not willing to let myself go like that. I've started working out this week. I've been doing a lot of stretches with Cindy Crawford.

Yup! lots of reading too!

I've been to the spa for slimming massages (not sure if they work, but at least they're comfy).
I can't really do anything about my food. It will affect the milk supply. I eat very healthily so I am not going to change much. I'll probably just increase my green and fruits intake. Stop having rice and pasta for awhile.

I need to lose about 15 kilos. My doc says I need to lose only 7. 15 will take me back to size small (36). I feel fortunate though- with Ahmed I worked on losing 35 kilos in 3 months! It was a no-nonsense programme that I created for myself. After the miscarriage, I needed to pick myself up and I wasn't very happy with my figure. I worked out for 4 hours a day (two hours of cardiovascular, an hour of resistance training and the remaining hour was for stretching).
I only ate veggies and proteins.
I lost a lot of hair but after getting back in shape it was just an amazing feeling. My cousins thought I had liposuction. The reactions I got were just aaaah.. so worth all of the work.
Some last saw me when I was a size 48 and all of the sudden I was a 36. I am so motivated to do it again. I am seriously working it out. My doc is amazing by challenging me. Everyone around me says it's too early but she says I can totally start working it and I should do it right away.

Got this for someone.. I will let her try it out and we'll check the results.. I can't take pills.. doing it au natural!

My advice to everyone who had a baby, if you had a normal no complications delivery then don't wait for months to start working out. Just do it. I am talking of experience here. You will just be building up the weight and it will be even harder to lose. I am not saying obsess about it- just don't let yourself go. Keep a realistic deadline, eat healthy, workout, and with the right will you will be able to go back to your pre-pregnancy size.

{ Devil Cat, Dalo3ah, & Aso
Thank you for your SMS's.. love you XOXO
}

{ Supporters and Advisors
Thank you for your input and advice.
}

[22] diamonds (165 opened the sack)  [+] Jewel Link

In the previous post, Lolitt asked a very critical question- What's Ahmed's reaction to the baby?

Let me bore you with a little bit of detail so you understand the extent of the situation we are in today.

It all started a few months back when I wanted to prepare Ahmed for the arrival of the new baby. The first thing I did was to move him out of our bedroom. He used to share a bed with us till January. I didn't want to separate from him after the arrival of the newborn.
I didn't want him to feel the newborn was the reason he is out so I had to do it as soon as possible before delivery. Honestly it should have been done a year ago but with the frequent traveling of my husband, I was selfish and it was always nice having someone to cuddle to at night.

So I got him a bunk bed that is big enough to allow me to lay with him till he fell asleep. I got him Barney bedding so he'd fall in love with it instantly. Needless to say it has been shocking for him since we shared the same bed for the past 36 months.



It took awhile for him to get used to it but within several weeks he was ok.
I then had to go through the hard conversation of expecting a sibling. I sat with him the other day and pointed at my belly "Habeeby, mommy has a baby inside, you are going to have a new baby brother or sister". He stood silent for a minute. He then had tears in his eyes and asked "Mama Why?"

It was then I realized I had an issue to deal with. A serious one.

I dedicated the following weeks into getting him prepared for the arrival. I bought him books on big brothers and read him stories but with the date getting closer, some issues arose.

Ahmed was already potty trained and he only wore diapers occasionally. He went back to diapers full time. He had also stopped the bottle but went back to drinking from his bottle again. He became more emotional. He cried over everything. He refused to sleep on time. He'd throw things all over the room. And he'd shout and scream over very silly things. I was getting really worried as those were signs he was having a reaction to the news.

I paid him a visit at his nursery and discussed it with his teachers who have been truly very supportive. They decided to involve more kids in the process and have them talk about their little siblings and share the experience with Ahmed. They also read more stories to him.
Well he didn't go off the bottle and he is still in diapers but his crying has lessened and he expressed more by talking instead of merely crying.

So I went into labour- bla bla bla. Ahmed paid me a visit 6 hours after delivery. Lucky for me, Yazi was taking her first bath so she wasn't in the room with me when he walked in. We spent some time together. I gave him a little box wrapped in colorful paper and told him that Yazi brought him this gift. He didn't react. He didn't even open it at the time.
My brother then said he'd take Ahmed to see his sister. Ahmed got excited about that and headed out to the babies changing room in the hospital.
He came back very happy saying "I am a big brother" I was so relieved. He opened his gift and was very happy with it.


The following day he came in and saw me breastfeeding her. That took him awhile to grasp. He started asking questions and I answered as many questions as I could. It seemed that things were getting better.

Now that we are home we have different encounters with his mood on a daily basis.

When he hears her cry he runs to me and holds me tight so I wouldn't carry her.
When she has milk he asks to be fed from the other breast.
When I try to put her to bed, all of the sudden he is sleepy and if I don't attend to him I would spend the following 3 hours begging him to sleep.
If she is carried by anyone other than my mom or me; he has a tantrum.

The solution so far is to get him as busy as possible. I have my husband and brothers around all the time to take him out and to spend more time with him.
I try to spend time with him but the first few weeks after delivery are very hard. I want to sleep when the baby is sleeping to get some rest. I am still recovering from delivery so it will take a bit of time. I need all the help I can get.

It feels that I have exhausted all ways to deal with this situation. Sometimes I feel he's just making it up. I mean he would be crying his heart out and all of the sudden when he gets what he wants the tears just dry up instantly and he is back to normal.

I've been reading about how to deal but nothing seems to help. Some things seem to work but then if I try them again they fail. All the ideas are just one time useable. If you know of someone who's gone through this, then what did they do?

Share your thoughts. I am going nuts. I am tired of carrying both babies at the same time. I can't do it anymore.

Something from my team in the office.. thank you guys XOXO

Uber Cute!

a Givori product

my baby's gonna be a fashionista! Juicy Couture Pacifiers

I've been lusting this bag for a very long time.. 3 years to be more precise.. Now at last I can be a proud owner of a Petunia Pickle Bottom bag!

[593] diamonds (220 opened the sack)  [+] Jewel Link

I guess you all know by now. I've had my baby already. It's been more than 10 days since I went into labour.

On the early morning of the 30th of March, I started having painful contractions. I totally forget how much labour really hurts. It was one o'clock in the morning and I had been awake cleaning up my dressing room. I wasn't due for another 2 days.

I thought to myself; I will save myself the trouble and try my best to go through the contractions when I am home. You don't want to be in the hospital until you are dilated for at least 4 cm. I am talking out of experience. They'll just send you home.

I made myself this hot bath and just lay there trying to bear the pain. It helped a little bit. I had to find other comforting techniques which helped for the following couple of hours.
Went back to my bathtub and cried throughout the contractions but couldn't bear it anymore. Wrapped my towel around me and headed to my hubby in tears "I am in labour. I think I am going to die". He jumped out of bed and got dressed.

I had already called my mom at 3 am. We made our move to the hospital and when examined I was told that I needed to go to the labour room right away.

The magical drug!

I asked for the Epidural- yes guys I am weak. I couldn't take the pain. Seriously! It was just too much to handle. It feels like someone is stabbing you in the stomach repeatedly.
It took them two hours to prep me. Then I just felt minor contractions throughout the delivery. Everything went well.



So excited to know what I had??

Drum rolls please!!

It's a beautiful, very red, very cuddly BABY GIRL!

My Baby's little hand.. Mashalla

After 9 months of rehearsals; she has finally made her debut!
Please welcome Al Yaziah born on the 30th of March, at 3:30 pm.

At delivery she looked exactly like Ahmed who looks exactly like his daddy.
Thank you Allah for your beautiful gift. Words can't express how grateful I am.

The stay at the hospital was crazy as usual. People in and out till late hours. It's a great chance to see many people I haven't seen in years but I don't get to rest at all with all visitations.

One corner of the room!

The flowers and the gifts were just overwhelming. The room wasn't enough to accommodate the flowers; we ended up taking the space in the whole ward.
The nurses were just amazing and very helpful. The midwives were very supportive. The doctors are very friendly. I totally enjoyed it.

My mom has been a true blessing. I am very lucky to have her. Mommy I love you! Thank you so much for all the help.

I am sitting in my TV room; sipping on beautiful herbal tea brought from Lebanon called (Zohorat) meaning flowers. The taste is just out of this world. Plus it is supposed to help with the bulging tummy (or so they say).

The Ah so yummy Zohorat Drink with Cinnamon Stick.. Heavenly!

Shoutouts

{ someone
Congratulations on your new baby girl! Now we can take them out together to Muhairi Center! I have a new partner =) I am very happy for you.
}

{ Kitten
You still owe me a visit!!!
}

{ Aso
I miss you and I hope I can see you soon
}

{ My Team in the office
I will be back soon. Be Patient! this is just to test how you guys can do without me! LOL. Bas wallah I miss you wayed guys. Baby Yazi comes first though!
}

{ Everyone...
Thank you for your kind messages and all your support. I really appreciate it. XOXO
}

[36] diamonds (162 opened the sack)  [+] Jewel Link