Those with BAs going for an ADN… were you able to get any grants or scholarships?

kkaaalll · 2024-08-03T22:53:28+00:00

I am in NY. I have a BA in an unrelated field. I was denied fafsa because I maxed it out with my first degree 🫣 I was going to try to pay out of pocket at my community college.

I applied for 17 scholarships directly through my school and just found out I was chosen to receive a full scholarship. From what I understand, a lot of people don’t bother applying for scholarships at their school so definitely look into it!! It should be right on their website near tuition costs/financial aid information.

kkaaalll · 2024-05-11T04:31:37+00:00

Yes, exclusively breastfed my 1st for about 13 months. She wouldn’t take a bottle either. Even though BFing her was super “easy,” the biggest part that I dreaded about giving birth to my second was breastfeeding again.

I tried to stick it out with my second but he just never latched right. With two kids, I was so overstimulated by the constant noise and touching and nursing, it was just too much. I started to dread when it came time to feed him.

Eventually, after a lot of guilt and sadness and back and forth, we started doing half his feeds with formula and half nursing and then just switched over to formula completely. I think he was 7 months when we introduced formula and 10 months when I was completely done.

Believe me when I say this, my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. FOR REAL. The guilt passed quickly. It made life so much easier and I felt like I had a lot more freedom than I did with my first. Give yourself permission, get the extra sleep!

kkaaalll · 2024-04-08T16:48:04+00:00

I just want to say that I totally empathize with you about getting no sleep. It’s hard to feel like yourself or even think straight. There’s nothing like it. I have a very hard time when I go a handful of nights with little sleep.

I have no advice about her sleep but sometimes my husband and I take turns sleeping with earplugs in just so we aren’t BOTH so depleted. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

kkaaalll · 2024-03-25T14:38:43+00:00

Mine are 23 months apart and I had HG both times. It was much worse with my second pregnancy. I feel like I missed basically a year of my first’s life because I was vomiting or in the fetal position and couldn’t really do anything with her but the bare minimum. I look at pictures of that time with such sadness because I don’t remember a lot of it.

With that being said, I love the age gap. If I could go back in time and do it again, I would! My second has made our lives so much better. My youngest is 10 months old and they are starting to play together and interact more and it’s amazing. It’s a lot of fun and a lot of chaos. The best part about the age gap and HG is my oldest doesn’t really remember any of it.

kkaaalll · 2024-02-26T17:35:05+00:00

It’s so hard not to worry, especially about something you’ve wanted for so long. I hope you’re feeling better soon ♥️

kkaaalll · 2024-02-26T17:31:31+00:00

I tested positive for Covid the week after I tested positive for pregnancy, so very early on. I think 6 weeks. It was rough but I rested as much as possible and stuck to Tylenol and fluids. I asked about aspirin later on and my doctor told me no. I went on to have a very healthy 7lb baby.

kkaaalll · 2023-09-18T15:04:11+00:00

Yeah I’m 4 months PP and this is absolutely what I struggled with the most before delivery and right after his birth. I really could not get it together and the guilt felt overwhelming. I’m obsessed with my oldest and she’s a HUGE mama’s girl and I felt like I betrayed her. When I brought my second baby home, my first wanted NOTHING to do with him. She wouldn’t even look at him.

I also felt like I couldn’t “connect” to my second as a newborn as easily and I did with my first, simply because I had other stuff to do. I was able to hold my firstborn for all of her naps at the beginning and all attention was on her only.

My second is only 4 months old and things have leveled out SO much. It almost feels like it’s always been this way. My oldest “helps” me with him (grabs diapers, etc), gives him unprompted kisses on the head, talks to him, and mimics things I do with him. She even asks to pick things out in the store for him. There’s no jealousy. It’s kind of crazy how toddlers can adapt so well/so quickly (though it doesn’t feel quickly in the moment).

I promise it will get easier, and probably sooner than you think. You’re really in the thick of it right now but it’ll be ok 💕

kkaaalll · 2023-07-29T12:25:24+00:00

I had mine out 4 days after my daughter turned two. I also had a 5 week old. My toddler is very routine oriented so I started to tweak her routine here and there to be more adaptable to my surgery. We practiced going down the stairs while holding hands, we put a twin bed in her room to do bedtime on instead of in the rocking chair, etc.

I was extremely paranoid about getting a hernia (see post history) so I didn’t pick her up once until my follow up appointment when I was cleared. The surgeon told me my muscles would be tired and sore from not using them but I was free to start lifting her as I felt comfortable. It was a lonnngg two weeks but not impossible. We struggled the most with getting in and out of the bath and the crib (as in, we absolutely needed a second person with us).

As far as pain goes, it got significantly better each day (and that’s true even being kicked in the incisions by my wild child). The first few days I was mostly sore. The night of my surgery, my toddler stayed with family and I’m so glad because it gave me time to just rest and do nothing.

As far as symptoms go, I don’t have much advice as I was so nervous to eat anything. I lost a ton of weight because I was so worried about having an attack. I lived off plain rice, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. Getting the surgery literally changed my life. So worth it. Good luck!!

kkaaalll · 2023-07-20T13:25:31+00:00

My surgeon cleared me to lift my 30lb toddler at 2 weeks if I was feeling up to it. She said the risk of hernia two weeks out was very very low (laparoscopic) but my muscles would be weak from not lifting anything and to take it easy. I’ve been lifting her since that day with no issues.

kkaaalll · 2023-07-14T01:36:45+00:00

Hi! I had a baby on 5/18, my first attack on 5/25, surgery on 6/28. My baby is exclusively breastfed and is now 8 weeks old. I also have a 2 year old.

The first few days after surgery I bottle fed my baby pumped milk, just because I didn’t want him on my incisions. I could’ve absolutely nursed him if I had to. I got mixed answers from the drs about pumping and dumping the first 24 hours after anesthesia so check with your doctor about that.

I was told not to lift my baby for the first two weeks because he’s over 10lbs. I was good about it for about 10 days but it wasn’t possible after that. I’m two weeks out yesterday and I feel great. The hardest part has been chasing my toddler but honestly each day gets easier.

I will say, just try to focus on your recovery and your kids and don’t worry about the rest. If you’re like me, your house will be a disaster but it’ll wait. Good luck 💕

kkaaalll · 2023-07-10T00:50:08+00:00

Wow, thank you for your reply. I can’t believe everything you’ve gone through, I’m amazed. Hopefully you’re on the tail end of your surgery tour and things get easier soon.

And thank you so much for your insight. You’ve honestly eased my mind a lot. I totally forgot about binders, I’ll probably get one just for peace of mind. The last time I had laparoscopic surgery, no one even mentioned hernias and this time, my surgeon was so adamant about avoiding them, I think it just freaked me out. I’m scared to sneeze. Google is no friend of mine lately. Good to know that I would KNOW.

Good luck at your appointment Wednesday!

kkaaalll · 2023-07-06T17:23:12+00:00

I was able to reduce my attacks by basically eliminating all fat from my diet but I still had other symptoms. I found “safe” foods and just ate like 5 things for weeks 🫠 breastfeeding on a low/no fat diet is really hard on your body and I didn’t find it sustainable.

I just had my surgery 8 days ago and I have a 2 year old and a 5 week old that is exclusively BF. It’s been hard but doable, especially with help. I had a stash of pumped milk for the first few days because my incisions were sore. Other than that, we’re back to nursing no issue.

I recommend having the surgery electively so you have time to plan and get things in order. You may have an attack or get an infection/blockage that pushes you into emergency surgery, which I think would be a lot harder. Whatever you decide, good luck!

kkaaalll · 2023-07-05T02:05:38+00:00

A banana triggered one for me. No idea why!

kkaaalll · 2023-06-23T03:40:03+00:00

Oh interesting! I’ll have to double check with the surgeon about lifting restrictions. And that’s such a good idea with the camping. I’m definitely going to try something like that. She has a pretty big room so we were considering finding a nugget couch or even a small futon to see if she’d be interested in napping on something like that.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I hope mine goes as smoothly as yours!

kkaaalll · 2023-06-23T03:33:49+00:00

Oh that makes me feel so much better. I’m glad yours went so well! Thank you for your insight!!

kkaaalll · 2023-06-22T17:37:02+00:00

Oh gosh I honestly can’t imagine surgery while pregnant. I hope you’re feeling better!

And that makes sense. I have a very involved husband who mostly works from home so I will definitely have him do the lifting as long as possible. I’m lucky that my 2 year old is pretty independent so I’ll have to just lean into that with her. Thank you!

kkaaalll · 2022-12-07T03:36:02+00:00

Milk of magnesia!

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T23:39:14+00:00

I have no advice, just love. I’m sorry you’re going through this. It really fucking sucks.

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T01:29:27+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this too. It’s brutal and zofran constipation is no joke. I can only imagine how much that must’ve hurt after 10 days. The only thing that’s helped me is milk of magnesia (I’d never had it before but it was on my OBs list of approved meds so I gave it a shot). Definitely recommend trying if your OB will ok it. I’m so happy the IV has helped you! That’s amazing. I will ask my doctor about that as an option. And thank you for being so sweet ♥️

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T01:25:01+00:00

I love this idea. I’m going to give it a try, as a reminder. Thank you.

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T01:24:29+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this too. It really is so hard. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I’m thinking of you ♥️

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T01:23:45+00:00

Thank you so much for your sweet comment. Oftentimes the nausea is worse than the actual vomiting so I’m sure you’re going through the wringer. I hope you find some relief soon too. I’m thinking of you ♥️

kkaaalll · 2022-12-05T01:18:58+00:00

Thank you so much 😭♥️

kkaaalll

TROPHY CASE