It's Official............Maternity Leave has Begun!!!

Yay!! I do not plan to return to work until May 2nd!

I know I sometimes gripe about my job. The long hours, busy season, unexpected projects/issues, taking work home, etc. can really wear on you. But when it's not 'busy season', I'm able to manage my part-time/flex-time schedule pretty well. Public accounting provides a little bit more flexibility than your typical Corporate America job. I'm not stuck to a strict 8-5 schedule; actually, I'm rarely there by 8am. :) So, being pregnant is easier to manage at KPMG than a typical industry job. When I was throwing up non-stop for the first several months, I was able to work from home alot when I wasn't feeling well. And taking time off for the many Dr. appointments didn't necessarily require me to use PTO, as I was able to make it up later on.

Then there's the time off allowed for post-partum recovery. I know that I am blessed when it comes to this topic. First of all, I get to take off 4 weeks prior to my due date. I don't know many people that have that luxury. Then once I deliver, I'll get about 8 weeks paid time-off (due to c-section) and then an additional 2 weeks of 'bonus' parental time-off through the firm. Then you tack on additional time from my 5 weeks of vacation, and that's alot of time off! I plan on returning back to work the first week of May, when Chase is around 3 months old. With Austin, due to the timing of his birth and busy season, I took off nearly 5 months. It was a little more than I could handle.

Hopefully over the next 3 weeks before Chase arrives, I can relax, keep my blood pressure in control, and rest-up for the many sleepless nights ahead. :)

What's Your Resolution?

Another New Year is upon us. Time to make those resolutions that so many of us make and then don't follow through with. My goal this year is to stick to it though!

1. I know that losing weight is the #1 resolution that people make every year. But after I have Chase, I really want to start working out and taking better care of myself. I know I've only gained about 15 lbs. this pregnancy, but I could have stood to lose a few before I got pregnant again. I know I'm going to have my hands full with a toddler and a newborn, but I really want to start making time to take care of myself. It will be easy to manage while I'm on maternity leave. I plan on taking Chase for long walks around the neighborhood in his stroller. And hopefully I can start taking advantage of the 'gym' that Jordan has built upstairs. (I can see Jordan rolling his eyes as he reads this, as I've pledged to start working out again many times.)

2. With a toddler and a newborn, my life is going to soon become very hectic. I tend to possess some OCD tendencies when it comes to cleaning, being organized, and wanting things done just how I want them. But I know that I will have to start to let things go. The house is not always going to be in order. And Austin will probably act out here and there with Chase's new arrival. But I'm really going to try to just let things go and not get all worked up. For some reason, I think this resolution will be harder to achieve than #1 above. Yikes!

I'm not going to commit to any more than these two right now, as I know that these will both be difficult to actually be successful at. But I really think that 2011 can be the year that I actually do it. Maybe it's the crazy pregnancy hormones talking, though. :)

The Cost of a Pregnancy.........

First of all, I would like to preface this posting by saying that I do not intend to offend any readers. However, I can't make any promises. But I guess that's why I'm entitled to free speech and can write freely whatever I want on my blog.

When I pre-registered at the hospital the other day, I provided all of my insurance information to them. Now, we've been trying to prepare for our portion of the delivery/c-section and likely 4-day hospital stay. We've already paid off our portion to the OB's office for my nine months of prenatal care and performance of the c-section, which was required by month seven. And when I think back to when we had Austin, we were presented with a bill for roughly $10k (before insurance) when we left the hospital. And this didn't even include the anesthesiologist! We're on the same insurance plan now, but our coverage has changed from 90% to 85% since then (yay!). So, I can only expect that we'll be out of pocket a hefty penny again when it's all said and done:

4 visits to the ER for dehydration and constant vomiting: $1,200
OB pre-natal care, ultrasounds, delivery/c-section, etc.: $800
Anesthesiologist for c-section: $400
C-section and hospital stay: $1,500
Total estimated out-of-pocket: $3,900

That's alot of friggin' money! And this is after paying about $5,000 in medical insurance premiums for the year, too. And we'll leave out incidentals like blood work, prenatal vitamins, etc.

So, what's my point here, or why am I getting all worked up?..................People that don't have insurance. I'm not talking about the elderly who are on Medicare. And I'm not talking about the people who were laid off or legitimately aren't able to work. I'm talking about those that choose to not work at all, are self-proclaimed 'self-employed' working here and there for themselves because they don't want to hold down a regular job, or want to only work part-time and live a lazy lifestyle. It drives me absolutely nuts! Call me crazy, but I feel like it's my civic responsibility to hold down a steady job, pay my taxes, and carry my own health insurance. But then there are others who obviously don't carry that same belief and would like to use the system to their benefit. I'm sure if I decided to not work and be uninsured, I could have my baby with no out-of-pocket cost and have Medicaid bear 100% of the burden. That is just ludicrous! I don't understand how people can get off without paying a single penny of the cost, and I'm setting up a payment plan to just pay out my portion of the cost after insurance. I don't think I'm being insensitive; it just doesn't seem rational, or fair. I know; life's not fair. And some of us have to bear the burden and pay for others. Maybe one day things will be more equal, but probably not. And if Obamacare ever does go into effect, I think it will just make matters worse.

Well, that's all for my right-winged rant this evening. :)

How Many Kids is Enough?

I have to admit, over the past few weeks, I've been revisiting my decision to get my tubes tied when I go in for my c-section. Am I doing the right thing? Will I regret it in two years when I get baby fever again? I guess some of my thoughts are due to people inquiring about it all the time. As soon as family/friends/co-workers, or even complete strangers, find out that we're having another little boy, what's the first thing out of their mouth? 'Are you going to try for a third to get a girl?!' First of all, I would never try for a third child for the sole purpose of trying to get a daughter. I just think that would be ridiculous, and by tempting fate, I would end up with three boys. :) And if I had another boy, would I be resentful, wishing he had been a girl? And why do people assume that I need to have both a son and daughter? Granted, it would be nice to see what a little 'Mackenzie' would look/act like. But I always only wanted two kids, and that was Jordan and mine's plan from the get-go.

I can say with 99% certainty, that I will never be a stay-at-home mom. I have never wanted to be one, and it was confirmed with my 5-month leave when I stayed home with Austin. And with everyday bills, I don't know how people really survive on one income, to be honest. So, knowing that I will be a working mom, childcare expenses get hefty. I'm already dreading adding the expense of Chase at our daycare. But we love it there, and you honestly get what you pay for. When I think about adding a third child to the expense, my stomach drops. And neither Jordan or I were fortunate enough to have our parents pay for college and all the expenses that come with it. As a result, we've got lots and lots of student loans to pay back before our kids go off to college. We've started up a college fund for Austin and plan to do the same for Chase.

Nevermind the expenses that come with additional kids, how do you find time to give them enough attention and everything? And then there's the obvious 1:1 ratio that just completely makes sense. Who wants to be outnumbered? And when you go to amusement parks, then you have an odd number of people and someone gets stuck riding by themselves. I know, silly thoughts. But these are all pros and cons that have been floating around in my head trying to rationalize my decision.

Not to mention the fact that I don't have easy pregnancies. Maybe if I did, I would be more willing to do it all over again. But throwing up non-stop for 5 months is hard on the body, and makes it difficult to care for a toddler.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that everyone should stop at two kids. Everyone has a right to their decision. But the Houghams will be happy with our two little boys and not look back thinking what could have been. I don't mind being the queen in my castle, with all my boys. :)

This seems like a rambling post. But what else am I supposed to do while I stay off my feet? I expect you'll be getting more frequent blog posts from me in the upcoming weeks........

Getting Ready for Baby!!!

We are less than a month away from meeting our new addition. It's so nice to know that he will be here by the 24th, no matter what. The nursery is about 95% finished, and I've been running around picking up a few last minute items. I've begun packing a bag for the hospital and have a list of items that need to be added right before we go. I've also got my email announcement all drafted up, with blanks to fill-in, and my recipient list ready. And I've also got a list/instructions for whoever is in charge of Austin or keeping him. Trying to figure out who will watch Austin, pick him up or drop him off at school, etc. while I'm in the hospital is quite a chore. I know I will sure miss tucking him in while I'm in the hospital for four nights. :( Hopefully it will work out where someone can stay at our house in the evenings or watch Austin, so that Jordan can stay at the hospital with me and Chase. But if there's a night where Jordan has to stay home with him, I'm sure I can manage.

Yesterday I had my check-up with the doc. I've been instructed to stay off my feet from here on out. That's awfully hard to do, especially with a toddler and things to do around the house. I already got reprimanded by Jordan yesterday when he came home and saw that I had crawled up in the attic looking for a few things. Woopsie. I agree, probably not the best decision on my part, but when I want something done, I want it then. :) But I've promised to take it easy and be a better patient from here on out. Even after waiting in the OB's waiting room for an hour before my appointment, my blood pressure was high when the nurse checked it. Yay! :( Now, I get to start making weekly visits to see the doc until Chase arrives. And my total weight gain is at 15lbs. so far. After my appointment, I headed next door to the hospital and pre-registered so that we will be all set for the big day. It just seems so real now!

Happy Birthday to my Sister!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATRINA!!!

My sister's birthday is the day after Christmas and she usually gets jipped. Most people 'forget' it's her birthday, combine a gift for Christmas & birthday, or are too busy to get together to celebrate. This year she turned 25, and we celebrated by going to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and then heading next door to Dave & Buster's to play some games. It was a mellow evening, but fun nonetheless. We had a great time playing games, especially Austin!

Merry Christmas!!

I can't believe another Christmas has come and gone already. :( The past few weeks have been jam-packed with cookie swaps, family get-togethers, Christmas parties/dinners, etc. My calendar feels so empty now. The week before Christmas, we ventured over to the Gaylord to walk through the ICE! exhibit. It was a Charlie Brown theme this year and I thought Austin would enjoy it. Needless to say, he didn't enjoy the cold (it was 9 degrees!) or the fact that the eskimo jacket he had to wear was gigantic and his hands wouldn't reach out the arm holes. Maybe next year. :) Then two days before Christmas, we went to drive through Prairie Lights again. Last year was our first year through, and it was awesome. Once again, they didn't disappoint. Christmas Eve celebration was at our house with Jordan's family. We munched on some delicious snacks and exchanged gifts. After they left, it was just the three of us left and we relaxed. Jordan read the Christmas Story from the Bible to Austin; he sat still for about half of it. :) Once we put Austin to bed, we had to get the last few presents out to the tree and help Santa setup. I was so excited about Austin's new chair & ottoman. We got to sleep in until 8am; then I made some fresh pigs-in-a-blanket and cinnamon rolls for the family. We got Austin up and he ventured into the living room. I think it was alot for him to take in, seeing all those gifts. Needless to say, the chair & ottoman and new lawnmower (including gas can, of course!) was a hit right off the bat. Katrina and Logan had stayed with us the night before so they could be there first thing in the morning, and my mom came over in the morning to share presents as well. I think we all made out pretty good! And it was so nice to see Austin actually get excited opening all the presents. After cleaning up the disaster that all the wrapping paper and boxes made, I got into the kitchen to start prepping lunch. Rather than going the traditional route, we opted for a Mexican lunch. We feasted on cheese enchiladas, beef enchiladas, chicken enchiladas, rice, chips & queso, and sopapilla cake. It was quite delicious, if I say so myself. After lunch, Katrina and Logan headed out to his family's celebration, and the three of us were able to enjoy a nice two-hour nap. Once again, I thank God for a child that loves to sleep! When Austin got up, we opened up all of his toys and started getting organized. The rest of the day was spent with the three of us, cherishing these last few days/weeks when it's 'just the three of us' before Chase makes his big debut.