Our--ahem--news

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Our--ahem--news
25
Wed, 03-29-2006 - 8:03pm

We're expecting another baby! This was not in our plan, but obviously it was in someone's, and we're very happy.

It turns out, too, that although we'd gotten rid of all our baby stuff, it's not going to cost much to restock, thanks to a series of coincidences (providences?):

1. It just so happens that my friend in Pennsylvania is moving to Utah and clearing out all her maternity clothes. Not helpful since she's so far away except that I happened to call while her parents, who live near us, were visiting. So she's sending me her whole maternity wardrobe with her mom!!

2. My neighbor and friend has just collected all her baby stuff to sell in a yard sale and is giving me pretty much everything else I'll need (actually, I wanted to *buy* it from her, but she won't take my money, so we're working out a trade arrangement, but it will cost me no actual hard cash)!

We breastfeed and use cloth diapers, so there will be very little ongoing expense until the baby is old enough for solid food, then expensive activities, then college (ugh! LOL).

SO... the only expenses left are:

Diapers (we used cloth with both our first two, and will again this time, but I gave all my diapers away and now have to restock). I plan to save money by making most of my own diapers--I made some before, and I can do it again. I use old cotton receiving blankets given to me or purchased for a dime or quarter a piece at yard sales, so it's very inexpensive. I'll probably spend an additional $25-30 on supplies.

Midwife (we plan a home birth, as we did with our first two, and the midwife charges around $800 for the birth, which is VERY inexpensive even compared to what many people pay out of pocket for a hospital birth, so we consider ourselves lucky here; there's also a $25 charge for each prenatal visit and $10 for blood tests, which are only done once unless there's a problem)

My iron supplement, which is about $30 a month (I have had trouble keeping iron levels up with both previous pregnancies, so this is pretty much a necessity)

Birthing supplies (when you have a home birth, you have to provide certain supplies, like waterproof pads, sterile cord clamps, etc.--these can be obtained for $20-$30 total)

MAYBE another car seat. This is complicated, but can at the least be postponed for a while, since my neighbor is giving me both an infant carseat and a narrower convertible carseat (necessary since we now have to fit three carseats across the one back seat)

I think that's it. What am I missing?

Dh originally wanted to buy a minivan to replace our station wagon, but after talking to a friend who is also having a surprise third baby, he's realized that we really can do it with our station wagon. I'm relieved, as this would almost certainly have added to our debt burden.

Sorry for the long post. Needless to say, this is big news and I'm trying to think of everything to avoid big expenses. Oh, yes, also--my small inheritance, I think we now need to set an additional $1000 aside from it for a third college fund, leaving us (after tithing) about $1500 to pay down debt or put in a CD or whatever. So it does change things there.

Anyway, thanks if you've made it this far. I don't blame you if you haven't! Blessings,

Heather

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2005
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 10:47am
Congratulations Heather! Such exciting news!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 11:41am
Baby dust, coming your way! Wish there were more I could do...
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2005
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 12:02pm
oh i'm so happy for you! you sure have thouroughly thought how this is going to fit in your life! we plan to adopt our next, and my one regret about that is not breastfeeding that one. how exciting!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2005
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 12:04pm
oh, wanted to mention (hate when i remember after i post!), when i read the title of your post, i *knew*
:0)
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 12:24pm

Hey--our original plan, before we decided to stick with two children, was to go biological for the first two (to get our feet wet, so to speak), and then adopt a few more. We never planned to have more than two biological children, but sometimes the universe has other plans.

Anyway, good luck with your adoptions. I think it's great that you're looking into that.

Blessings,

Heather

Avatar for skthurber
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 8:46pm

**My iron supplement, which is about $30 a month (I have had trouble keeping iron levels up with both previous pregnancies, so this is pretty much a necessity)**

I remembered last night, and I don't know how you feel about leftover medications, but would you like some iron tablets? I was anemic with my twins (pretty common with multiples), and I have about 1/2 bottle of iron pills left. They don't expire until Feb 2007. Just email me if you are interested, and I will send them your way. sthurber-fiorenza@juno.com

-Sarah

Sarah


Mom to Gina & Tony


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 03-30-2006 - 11:17pm
Hi, Heather--Congratulations on your wonderful news! Sounds like you have everything anticipated and well-planned. A joyful addition to your family. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 7:33am

Ahh, what a sweet offer!! Thank you! I am not at all squeamish about leftover pills, but I do have a particular supplement I'm very attached to (which is why it's so expensive--otherwise I'd just buy the cheapest thing available). It's a liquid, herbal supplement that has none of the usual side effects of iron pills (constipation, etc.) and that is very easily absorbed and reasonably pleasant to swallow (tastes like flavored cough medicine). Since I know it works really well for my body, I'm probably going to stick with it (it's called Floradix for any other anemic preggos out there who are interested in trying it, and it's usually available at health food stores, though I was not able to obtain it in California when I was there during my previous pregnancy--but it can be ordered online).

Thank you SOO much for the offer. Such kindness! And thanks for the congrats, too!

Blessings,

Heather

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 8:19am

Congratulations!!


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2005
Fri, 03-31-2006 - 8:34am
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Lara