I never know what day of the week it is. The days run together and are a blur of diaper changes, feedings, pumpings and short sleep sessions. I am using this time to bond with Sam, but I put this pressure on myself to also be productive. I figure since I'm home all day I should be able to accomplish a few tasks in addition to having the house cleaned and cooking dinner. (I would love to add exercise to that list, but it hasn't happened yet.) Right now my definition of a productive day is if I get one load of laundry started and maybe moved to the dryer. Put away? Hardly, that almost always takes a few days. So the laundry sits, maybe folded but usually not, in the laundry basket for a few days before it annoys me enough to tackle it. The primary reason for this internal pressure is starting next week Ella will be home with Sam and I on MWF, and Ella knows how to destroy the house in a matter of minutes. I have doubts I'll be able to keep up with her much less keep her engaged.
My to-do list includes practical tasks like updating Quicken to packing up my maternity clothing to those that fall under the "gees it would be nice to do" such as cleaning and re-organizing closets, cabinets and the pantry. Instead of crossing off items, and oh how I love to cross off items, I only keep adding to the list. One big, pending item on my list is Sam's birth announcement. Sam is almost a month old and I have yet to finish his birth announcement. Ugh, I swear each evening that I'll finish it the next day, and still I make that promise to myself each day. A few friends have encouraged me to skip it, but I am proud to announce his birth. So, why haven't I found time to tackle it? Tomorrow, I swear, I will take the time to do it but without sacrificing time with Sam. It's one day at a time, right?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
MIA: Sleep
I am so tired. I am so tired. I am so tired. Oh, how I miss sleep, but Sam is worth it. Just give us eyeballs during the day and not at night. Some days I wonder if I should be behind the wheel of a car considering how sleep deprived I am. Thankfully the plans today entail preparing for our weekend house guests, so I will be home most of the day.
How I am looking forward to quality time with my favorite 19-year-old, who will be a very helpful extra set of hands this weekend while Mike is at the Kansas Speedway with my older brother Scott. At the end of the weekend, I wonder who won't want Rachel to leave more, Ella or me?
How I am looking forward to quality time with my favorite 19-year-old, who will be a very helpful extra set of hands this weekend while Mike is at the Kansas Speedway with my older brother Scott. At the end of the weekend, I wonder who won't want Rachel to leave more, Ella or me?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Too Tired to Blog
I didn't realize a week has almost passed since I last blogged. I have been too tired to put together any real coherent thoughts. (Sam's best stretch at night has been 3 1/2 hours. His standard is about 2 1/2 hours) There certainly has been plenty of blog worthy moments in the past week. If I had more time, I would write about:
*How my baby girl will change her own dirty pull-up, including flushing the poop in the toilet. I was in the process of changing Sam's diaper when Ella announced she was poopy. I told her as soon as I had changed Sam that I would help her. As I was finishing with Sam, I heard the toilet flush and Ella announce she was done. I ran into to the bathroom to see the water flushing down but I wasn't sure if the actual poop made it in the bowl. I went into her room and quickly scanned the floor, praying neither of us had accidentally stepped in it. No sign of the actual item, but I found the dirty pull-up complete with water droplets, evidence that she dropped the poop in toilet. Ella was standing in the middle of her room wiping herself and giving me a look of disbelief, like I should know she is more than capable of changing her own pull-up.
*A similar incident occurred a few days later. I thought Ella was still napping when I started to hear noise coming from her room. I peeked my head in, only to see that she had pulled out multiple pull-ups, removed her wet one and had changed her pants. The only problem was she put her pants on first and then the pull-up. It was quite the sight. She was resistant to switching them around, but finally I convinced her.
*With these two incidents, I think official potty training is in the very near future.
*Sam's two-week dr. appointment -- He checked out great -- 7 lbs. 11 oz and 21 inches long. The kid gained 11 ounces in a week. Yes, 11. The doc likes to see an ounce a day, so she was pleased he had gained so much back in one week. I'm not exaggerating when I say that boy has a ferocious appetite. He is basically long and lean, but I suspect he'll start to fatten up and hopefully sleep better.
*How Ella warmed my heart when Sam was crying the other day. He was in the swing when he started to fuss. She came over to him, patted his head and said, "It's okay Sammy. Mommy is here for you." Awww......
*How I turned around and my baby girl is no longer a baby. Having a newborn in the house definitely gives us a whole new perspective on how big Ella is. It's been simple acts this past week that have really driven the fact home. She now swings on the big kid swings at the park. She has to be lifted into them, but she loves to lean back and let her head dangle with nothing but pure joy across her face.
I suspect I'll be saying the same thing about Sam. I don't want him to grown up too fast, but for now, I would just like him to sleep for longer stretches at night. I really don't enjoy being a walking zombie most days.
*How my baby girl will change her own dirty pull-up, including flushing the poop in the toilet. I was in the process of changing Sam's diaper when Ella announced she was poopy. I told her as soon as I had changed Sam that I would help her. As I was finishing with Sam, I heard the toilet flush and Ella announce she was done. I ran into to the bathroom to see the water flushing down but I wasn't sure if the actual poop made it in the bowl. I went into her room and quickly scanned the floor, praying neither of us had accidentally stepped in it. No sign of the actual item, but I found the dirty pull-up complete with water droplets, evidence that she dropped the poop in toilet. Ella was standing in the middle of her room wiping herself and giving me a look of disbelief, like I should know she is more than capable of changing her own pull-up.
*A similar incident occurred a few days later. I thought Ella was still napping when I started to hear noise coming from her room. I peeked my head in, only to see that she had pulled out multiple pull-ups, removed her wet one and had changed her pants. The only problem was she put her pants on first and then the pull-up. It was quite the sight. She was resistant to switching them around, but finally I convinced her.
*With these two incidents, I think official potty training is in the very near future.
*Sam's two-week dr. appointment -- He checked out great -- 7 lbs. 11 oz and 21 inches long. The kid gained 11 ounces in a week. Yes, 11. The doc likes to see an ounce a day, so she was pleased he had gained so much back in one week. I'm not exaggerating when I say that boy has a ferocious appetite. He is basically long and lean, but I suspect he'll start to fatten up and hopefully sleep better.
*How Ella warmed my heart when Sam was crying the other day. He was in the swing when he started to fuss. She came over to him, patted his head and said, "It's okay Sammy. Mommy is here for you." Awww......
*How I turned around and my baby girl is no longer a baby. Having a newborn in the house definitely gives us a whole new perspective on how big Ella is. It's been simple acts this past week that have really driven the fact home. She now swings on the big kid swings at the park. She has to be lifted into them, but she loves to lean back and let her head dangle with nothing but pure joy across her face.
I suspect I'll be saying the same thing about Sam. I don't want him to grown up too fast, but for now, I would just like him to sleep for longer stretches at night. I really don't enjoy being a walking zombie most days.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Sisterly Love
Oh how, Ella adores her little brother. We snapped this photo a few days after we arrived home from the hospital. Ella had been asking to hold Sam, so we set her up on the couch and placed him in her lap. She is still learning how delicate he is as she attempted to lift him up by his neck today. I about freaked out, but I am learning to temper my reaction as I know she only wants to help mom. Seeing them together like this really warms my heart. I only hope the adoration and love lasts through the first battle of mine vs. yours.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Love Affair Has Ended
Ella's crush on Francis has ended or at least is on hiatus for the time being. The reason: he bit her. Her teacher called me while I was driving to pick her up. She told me of the incident but the center's policy prevented her from telling me which child, although Ella blurted it out to me the minute I walked into her room. To me, it was irrelevant who bit her.
Once I knew she was okay (it was just a topical bite, no skin was broken), I was relieved that she wasn't the biter or that she didn't retaliate by biting Francis back. Day cares take biting very seriously and the center has a three bites and you're out policy. The teacher is a little unsure why Francis acted out like that. The incident happened as the kids were lining up to go on a walk, and Francis and Ella were battling over the lead spot. Ella and I talked last night how "teeth aren't for biting" and that she needs to take turns with her friends. I hope their interaction today was a bit more friendlier.
Once I knew she was okay (it was just a topical bite, no skin was broken), I was relieved that she wasn't the biter or that she didn't retaliate by biting Francis back. Day cares take biting very seriously and the center has a three bites and you're out policy. The teacher is a little unsure why Francis acted out like that. The incident happened as the kids were lining up to go on a walk, and Francis and Ella were battling over the lead spot. Ella and I talked last night how "teeth aren't for biting" and that she needs to take turns with her friends. I hope their interaction today was a bit more friendlier.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Sam Update
Below are little treasures we've discovered about our "handsome Sam":
As a family, we made the trek to his one-week well visit. Ella really wanted to tag along and since Mike was home, he was another set of hands. Ella's motivation for going, I suspect, was for the basket of suckers waiting for her at the check-out desk. To be fair, the girl is quite enamored with her baby brother and demands to be by his side for the all the "major moments" that have occurred within the past week -- diaper changes, bath time, etc.
Overall, Sam received a passing grade from the doctor. His weight had dropped to 7 lbs and the nurse measured him at 20 inches long. His circ is healing nicely. We did discover the poor guy has thrush, so we are treating it. Nothing serious just more of a nuisance that anything. He goes back this week and the doctor only request was his weight to be on the upswing. We are working on it and as much as he eats, I will be shocked if he hasn't gained at least a few ounces.
- He's a squirmy guy.
- He has a healthy appetite.
- He sleeps in three-hour increments at night. I swear the past two nights you could set a clock by him.
- For now, he tolerates his big sister poking, touching and kissing him. He even seems to turn his head when he hears her voice.
- When he furrows his brow, he reminds me of the old man playing chess from Pixar's Geri's Game.
- He exercises his lungs mainly during diaper changes, bath time, tummy time and when he desires food. Otherwise, he is a fairly content kid.
As a family, we made the trek to his one-week well visit. Ella really wanted to tag along and since Mike was home, he was another set of hands. Ella's motivation for going, I suspect, was for the basket of suckers waiting for her at the check-out desk. To be fair, the girl is quite enamored with her baby brother and demands to be by his side for the all the "major moments" that have occurred within the past week -- diaper changes, bath time, etc.
Overall, Sam received a passing grade from the doctor. His weight had dropped to 7 lbs and the nurse measured him at 20 inches long. His circ is healing nicely. We did discover the poor guy has thrush, so we are treating it. Nothing serious just more of a nuisance that anything. He goes back this week and the doctor only request was his weight to be on the upswing. We are working on it and as much as he eats, I will be shocked if he hasn't gained at least a few ounces.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
PBJ vs. Sushi
I had to share this field trip photo, which was taken while the kids were enjoying their sack lunches. Ella is sitting next to her friend Francis, who has the sweetest and gentlest of dispositions, and to boot Ella has a slight crush on him. As for their lunches, Francis got sushi while unfortunately for Ella her parents had packed her a boring PB&J. I just love the contrast in lunches. I wish I could use the excuse that we had only been discharged from the hospital for just a day, but it would have been PB&J regardless. It's easy and likes them.
One benefit of Ella's daycare center is the ethnic diversity in the students and the teachers. Hopefully, she's learning at an early age that everyone in the world does not look or speak like her nor even eats what she does. While Ella is exposed to different cultures and languages (in her current classroom the kids are counting to 10 in English and Spanish as well as counting in Korean and Tagalong-Philippines), I don't believe sushi is on the menu anytime soon. Maybe Francis will invite her over to a play date.
One benefit of Ella's daycare center is the ethnic diversity in the students and the teachers. Hopefully, she's learning at an early age that everyone in the world does not look or speak like her nor even eats what she does. While Ella is exposed to different cultures and languages (in her current classroom the kids are counting to 10 in English and Spanish as well as counting in Korean and Tagalong-Philippines), I don't believe sushi is on the menu anytime soon. Maybe Francis will invite her over to a play date.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Ella and Sam's Dad
Yeah, that would be me.
So, wow, life sure has been in fast forward---and it's hard to believe it at the moment because it's so quiet in the house right now. Amanda is taking a nap, Sam's doing the same, and Ella is doing the same, albeit at daycare. So I am awake and at home awaiting for the sounds of life to return.
But as the challenge was previously thrown out by Amanda, here is a post by me finally!*
*You know, its funny, I set out to create this blog for more posts by me than Amanda, guess how THAT turned out.
So I'm officially a father of two now. And everything is Even Steven in the house again, two guys, two gals. It's almost a challenge to think if we have one more which sex is going to be the outnumbered one, but in all likelihood, it should be viewed more as the kids outnumbering the parents, and frankly, that's just scary.
I must tell you all that I am so proud of Amanda. This entire ordeal was so complete not-by-the-textbook that she really could have been thrown for a loop. Instead, she was thrown for a loop with an Ambien and some pain meds, all to help her sleep when really all it did was "loosen things up" and put her right in the throws of hard labor with no going back! Epidural? Yeah, right! We woke up from a dead sleep and it was BABY TIME! Poor thing. She did AWESOME--she dug down deep and found strength she didn't even know she had. And thanks to her, even though it was without drugs--we now have a bouncing, beautiful little baby boy named Samuel Michael.
Thanks to everybody for all the kind words and support that we have received both over the weekend and this week. Amanda is recovering great and big sis Ella (still weird to say that, but it's fact now!) couldn't be more proud to have baby brother finally out and be able to kiss his little forehead.*
*Although she's had a cold so we are really trying to limit that action for a while. How about kissing your brother's toes?
And speaking of little Ms. E--we did have our first daycare field trip to Wonderscope on Monday. She was SO excited to get on the school bus. I did have a little "flash-forward" in my mind about seeing her go off to school in a school bus for the first time and thought I better pull back a little bit---she's only *2* right now, that's still a ways off.* I loved sitting with her on the bus--we really had fun pointing out everything outside and saying hi to all the trains and the different scenery. After a quick orientation of the joint, Ella and kids all ran hog wild throughout. Ella's favorite room is the "Raceways" room, which is really more about physics than anything, but it involves a lot of golf balls and plenty of ways to roll the ball on different kinds of tracks and cones. She continued to play in this room for almost an hour I think. It finally took some her fellow "school mates" to lure her to some of the other rooms. We played in the "grocery store" room for a good chunk of the time and made fake pizzas, and also she said hi to the turtle and snake they had in one of the rooms as well. Overall it really was a great time and it was wonderful to see her interact with some of her classmates for an extended period time. Plus I hope that she enjoyed finally getting to spend some time with her Dad since he'd been away for 3 days to the hospital!
*much like another post from me in the span of a week.
A couple of quick notes:
What a great few days it has been for my sports:
1. KU beat the "tar" out of UNC Saturday night and then went on Monday to play a GREAT game and stage a beautiful comeback against Memphis. Its been a VERY long time since one of the teams that I follow has actually WON a championship. Mainly the '88 Jayhawks and the '85 Royals. It felt pretty good!
2. The Royals are off to a tremendous start---5-2 as I type this and defeated those hated Yankees on Tuesday at the Home Opener. Although it was cold and nasty---very UNLIKE baseball weather. The upside? My beer NEVER got warm. And that new "crown vision" wow---FINALLY a professional scoreboard.
3. Carl Edwards won his 3rd race of the season...his THIRD! We aren't even a 1/4 of the way into the season and he already has matched his win total from last year. Congrats Carl---now just do it at Kansas Speedway! And can I just say I LOVE that Aflac paint scheme?
Seriously? I have to start mowing again?
All this typing has pooped me out. I think I'm going to take a siesta!
Ta ta!
So, wow, life sure has been in fast forward---and it's hard to believe it at the moment because it's so quiet in the house right now. Amanda is taking a nap, Sam's doing the same, and Ella is doing the same, albeit at daycare. So I am awake and at home awaiting for the sounds of life to return.
But as the challenge was previously thrown out by Amanda, here is a post by me finally!*
*You know, its funny, I set out to create this blog for more posts by me than Amanda, guess how THAT turned out.
So I'm officially a father of two now. And everything is Even Steven in the house again, two guys, two gals. It's almost a challenge to think if we have one more which sex is going to be the outnumbered one, but in all likelihood, it should be viewed more as the kids outnumbering the parents, and frankly, that's just scary.
I must tell you all that I am so proud of Amanda. This entire ordeal was so complete not-by-the-textbook that she really could have been thrown for a loop. Instead, she was thrown for a loop with an Ambien and some pain meds, all to help her sleep when really all it did was "loosen things up" and put her right in the throws of hard labor with no going back! Epidural? Yeah, right! We woke up from a dead sleep and it was BABY TIME! Poor thing. She did AWESOME--she dug down deep and found strength she didn't even know she had. And thanks to her, even though it was without drugs--we now have a bouncing, beautiful little baby boy named Samuel Michael.
Thanks to everybody for all the kind words and support that we have received both over the weekend and this week. Amanda is recovering great and big sis Ella (still weird to say that, but it's fact now!) couldn't be more proud to have baby brother finally out and be able to kiss his little forehead.*
*Although she's had a cold so we are really trying to limit that action for a while. How about kissing your brother's toes?
And speaking of little Ms. E--we did have our first daycare field trip to Wonderscope on Monday. She was SO excited to get on the school bus. I did have a little "flash-forward" in my mind about seeing her go off to school in a school bus for the first time and thought I better pull back a little bit---she's only *2* right now, that's still a ways off.* I loved sitting with her on the bus--we really had fun pointing out everything outside and saying hi to all the trains and the different scenery. After a quick orientation of the joint, Ella and kids all ran hog wild throughout. Ella's favorite room is the "Raceways" room, which is really more about physics than anything, but it involves a lot of golf balls and plenty of ways to roll the ball on different kinds of tracks and cones. She continued to play in this room for almost an hour I think. It finally took some her fellow "school mates" to lure her to some of the other rooms. We played in the "grocery store" room for a good chunk of the time and made fake pizzas, and also she said hi to the turtle and snake they had in one of the rooms as well. Overall it really was a great time and it was wonderful to see her interact with some of her classmates for an extended period time. Plus I hope that she enjoyed finally getting to spend some time with her Dad since he'd been away for 3 days to the hospital!
*much like another post from me in the span of a week.
A couple of quick notes:
What a great few days it has been for my sports:
1. KU beat the "tar" out of UNC Saturday night and then went on Monday to play a GREAT game and stage a beautiful comeback against Memphis. Its been a VERY long time since one of the teams that I follow has actually WON a championship. Mainly the '88 Jayhawks and the '85 Royals. It felt pretty good!
2. The Royals are off to a tremendous start---5-2 as I type this and defeated those hated Yankees on Tuesday at the Home Opener. Although it was cold and nasty---very UNLIKE baseball weather. The upside? My beer NEVER got warm. And that new "crown vision" wow---FINALLY a professional scoreboard.
3. Carl Edwards won his 3rd race of the season...his THIRD! We aren't even a 1/4 of the way into the season and he already has matched his win total from last year. Congrats Carl---now just do it at Kansas Speedway! And can I just say I LOVE that Aflac paint scheme?
Seriously? I have to start mowing again?
All this typing has pooped me out. I think I'm going to take a siesta!
Ta ta!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
So Good to Be Home
So happy to be home and in our own space. We are slowly adjusting to having two kids. Sam is sleeping in decent spurts, so that has helped. While we are tired, his past few nights have been bearable, nothing like the first few nights we experienced with Ella. She is doing good and really seems to enjoy having Sam around.
Last night, Mike enjoyed a guy's evening watching KU, so I was left alone with the two kids and had the responsibility of getting both to bed. Sam wanted to do nothing but eat and only wanted to be held, and Ella was being a dawdler who also wanted her space on mom's lap. Mike is heading to the Royal's home opener today, so I'll have more one on one time with the kids.
A few more pics have been posted, and I'm hoping to get Mike to blog about Ella's field trip since he accompanied her. She was so excited to tell me about her ride on the school bus and her time at Wonderscope. Mike also got some adorable pics, but those will have to wait to be posted until he writes about their experience.
Sam is sleeping. I better squeeze in my shower while I have the time.
Last night, Mike enjoyed a guy's evening watching KU, so I was left alone with the two kids and had the responsibility of getting both to bed. Sam wanted to do nothing but eat and only wanted to be held, and Ella was being a dawdler who also wanted her space on mom's lap. Mike is heading to the Royal's home opener today, so I'll have more one on one time with the kids.
A few more pics have been posted, and I'm hoping to get Mike to blog about Ella's field trip since he accompanied her. She was so excited to tell me about her ride on the school bus and her time at Wonderscope. Mike also got some adorable pics, but those will have to wait to be posted until he writes about their experience.
Sam is sleeping. I better squeeze in my shower while I have the time.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Quiet Day
Another day at the hospital is coming to an end and Sam is just waking up. The poor guy definitely has his days and nights confused. He has been a quiet angel all day and as the day turns to night he seems to find his lungs. I can't blame him today. He had quite the day, nurses and staff poking on him and even endured his circumcision, which went well and the doc said Sam handled quite well.
Goodness this post was started about 12 hours ago. It's now Sunday morning and we are heading home sometime today. How, we have missed our little girl! Thanks to L&G who brought her up repeatedly to see us. It was always so good to see her smiling face walk through the door. She instantly wanted to see baby brother and give him a kiss on the forehead. She would repeat this multiple times during her visits. I tried to get her to take a walk last night as I had spent entirely too much time looking at the same four walls, but we didn't even round the corner before she said she wanted to go back to baby brother. Goodbyes have been hard on her, and me to be honest. She instantly broke out into tears yesterday when she learned it was time to go. She said she wanted to stay with baby brother. I started to tear up as well, so we shared a big hug and she bravely walked out the door.
As for sleep, we have gotten a few solid hours here and there, mainly because we took advantage of the nursery. While my head knew it was the smart thing to do, my heart didn't. I sobbed as the nurse wheeled Sam away the first night, yet I had asked her to do this. After a brief quality cry and with Mike's comforting words, I quickly found dreamland for four hours before the nurse brought him back for a feeding. While I will miss the great nurses and the resources here at the hospital, I am more than ready to be under one roof as a family.
Goodness this post was started about 12 hours ago. It's now Sunday morning and we are heading home sometime today. How, we have missed our little girl! Thanks to L&G who brought her up repeatedly to see us. It was always so good to see her smiling face walk through the door. She instantly wanted to see baby brother and give him a kiss on the forehead. She would repeat this multiple times during her visits. I tried to get her to take a walk last night as I had spent entirely too much time looking at the same four walls, but we didn't even round the corner before she said she wanted to go back to baby brother. Goodbyes have been hard on her, and me to be honest. She instantly broke out into tears yesterday when she learned it was time to go. She said she wanted to stay with baby brother. I started to tear up as well, so we shared a big hug and she bravely walked out the door.
As for sleep, we have gotten a few solid hours here and there, mainly because we took advantage of the nursery. While my head knew it was the smart thing to do, my heart didn't. I sobbed as the nurse wheeled Sam away the first night, yet I had asked her to do this. After a brief quality cry and with Mike's comforting words, I quickly found dreamland for four hours before the nurse brought him back for a feeding. While I will miss the great nurses and the resources here at the hospital, I am more than ready to be under one roof as a family.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Samuel Michael Bowling
Baby Boy Bowling finally has a name. It feels good to actually call him something other than "sweet boy," "baby boy," etc. I find myself alternating between Sam and Samuel. Mike has used Sammy, so multiple possibilities exist. I figure his name will evolve with time. Even though I had struggled with naming him Sam, it is what feels right. Plus, none of the other names on our short list really fit him. While Sam was selected for no other reason that we liked it, Michael is in honor of my dad. Plus, it is just a bonus that Mike is a Michael as well.
Sam is sleeping, so if I am wise, I will do the same.
Sam is sleeping, so if I am wise, I will do the same.
Baby Boy is Here
He arrived at 3:57 am weighing 7lbs. 6 oz and does not have a name. Soon, we will bestow one on him. No one expected him that early. He came so quick that an epidural was NOT an option. I begged for the doc with the good stuff and then joked that the upside was it was one less bill to pay. I can't say I endorse drug free labor, but I survived and this little guy is a nice reward. The cervadil was enough to push me into labor, and my nurse and the on-call doc were floored with how fast I advanced. When Mike called the nurses desk, I don't think they believed him when he tried to tell them my contractions were intense.
Someday, I'll post the complete story, but I haven't slept even though I had was given an ambien around 10:30pm. It's amazing how your body can push through that if necessary. I need a catnap and baby boy is asleep and Mike is getting some food with his parents & Ella -- who thinks baby brother is fairly interesting, at least for now. My favorite moment was having both my kids on the bed with me. As for me, I'm just a happy mom to 2 beautiful children. Some pictures have been posted, more to come.
Someday, I'll post the complete story, but I haven't slept even though I had was given an ambien around 10:30pm. It's amazing how your body can push through that if necessary. I need a catnap and baby boy is asleep and Mike is getting some food with his parents & Ella -- who thinks baby brother is fairly interesting, at least for now. My favorite moment was having both my kids on the bed with me. As for me, I'm just a happy mom to 2 beautiful children. Some pictures have been posted, more to come.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
we're here!
...and its just like we are at home--no contractions, and we are sitting around watching television and I'm on the computer.
Sounds like the pitosin will get started around 7am....so for most of you reading this we'll be started by the time you read this!
Heart rate is good....so now we wait, and sleep.
Sounds like the pitosin will get started around 7am....so for most of you reading this we'll be started by the time you read this!
Heart rate is good....so now we wait, and sleep.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
24 hours til check in...
...and we can't believe it. Our list of things to do is getting smaller, and Amanda has worked her last day before her maternity leave---although they told her to bring her computer. Nice.
Baby Boy is hanging in there and there hasn't been any change in his status. We tried an old wives tale and had some mexican tonight. Nothing major---just Moe's, which is like a Chipotle/Qdoba knockoff chain. Either way Amanda had fresh chopped jalapenos ...they had a ton of kick, but I'm sure its only going to just make our butts burn tomorrow.
Ella's fast asleep and we realized tonight was the last night we will be putting her down as a family of 3. We won't be putting her down tomorrow because we will be at the hospital working on bringing our second child into the world--but I'm sure a lot of that time will be spent worrying about baby number 1 and hoping she's doing fine. I know it won't be easy to leave her tomorrow and neither one of us is looking forward to it. But I should suppose that we survived going to Seattle for 4-5 days and left her, this will be shorter than that and hopefully we'll see her in the hospital once or twice...
Either way, Amanda is off tomorrow and I'm taking a half day so tomorrow is going to be the start of a VERY LONG and stressful day. We will do our best to keep everybody informed!!
Ugh, there is work to be done around here and both of us just want to go to bed. These evenings just get away from us waaaay to quickly.
Baby Boy is hanging in there and there hasn't been any change in his status. We tried an old wives tale and had some mexican tonight. Nothing major---just Moe's, which is like a Chipotle/Qdoba knockoff chain. Either way Amanda had fresh chopped jalapenos ...they had a ton of kick, but I'm sure its only going to just make our butts burn tomorrow.
Ella's fast asleep and we realized tonight was the last night we will be putting her down as a family of 3. We won't be putting her down tomorrow because we will be at the hospital working on bringing our second child into the world--but I'm sure a lot of that time will be spent worrying about baby number 1 and hoping she's doing fine. I know it won't be easy to leave her tomorrow and neither one of us is looking forward to it. But I should suppose that we survived going to Seattle for 4-5 days and left her, this will be shorter than that and hopefully we'll see her in the hospital once or twice...
Either way, Amanda is off tomorrow and I'm taking a half day so tomorrow is going to be the start of a VERY LONG and stressful day. We will do our best to keep everybody informed!!
Ugh, there is work to be done around here and both of us just want to go to bed. These evenings just get away from us waaaay to quickly.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Status Quo
No baby. No change. Nothing to report. I feel like I should post an update because I know people are checking out the blog to find out our status rather than bothering us.
We did get through April 1st, which is what I wanted. I have one holiday baby. I'm okay with not having another. So, now we wait.
Tomorrow is my last day in the office. Right now, I am completely wrapped up in work projects but so very soon it will be the furtherest place from my mind.
We did get through April 1st, which is what I wanted. I have one holiday baby. I'm okay with not having another. So, now we wait.
Tomorrow is my last day in the office. Right now, I am completely wrapped up in work projects but so very soon it will be the furtherest place from my mind.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Kid is Content
All signs point to Friday for delivery. At my NST, there was no change in my status. This boy and my body are fine with the status quo. Guess, he'll be a good fit for his family.
As for Ella, she counters my rising anxiety with plenty of comic relief. Here was one of our conversations yesterday. Picture Ella walking down the stairs with a perplexed look on her face.
E: "Mommy, I'm scared."
Me: "Why you scared, honey?"
E: "He's going get me, mommy."
Me: "Who's gonna get you honey?"
E: "The Cookie Monster."
Her dad and I break out into laughter. Probaby not the best response when your child expresses her fears. I quickly recomposed myself and responded: "Honey, Cookie Monster is not scary. He is friendly." Well, that is debatable, but it seemed to be enough for her at that moment.
Tonight after changing a dirty diaper, she ran back downstairs to continue playing, but I knew better than to flush the poop without her assistance. As the minute, she hears the toliet flush, she freaks out. It's as if she has to say goodbye personally to each of her bowel movements. (She also has a peculiar desire to see the contents of each dirty diaper. The moment you pull it away from her body she asks to see it.) So, I hollared after her asking if she wanted to help wisk the poop away. She did come running back up the stairs, but she wasn't sure what I said as her response was, "You asking a question mommy?"
When did this kid become quite the conversationalist? A day doesn't pass without me shaking my head in amazement about the conversations we have or the observations she makes about the world around her.
As for Ella, she counters my rising anxiety with plenty of comic relief. Here was one of our conversations yesterday. Picture Ella walking down the stairs with a perplexed look on her face.
E: "Mommy, I'm scared."
Me: "Why you scared, honey?"
E: "He's going get me, mommy."
Me: "Who's gonna get you honey?"
E: "The Cookie Monster."
Her dad and I break out into laughter. Probaby not the best response when your child expresses her fears. I quickly recomposed myself and responded: "Honey, Cookie Monster is not scary. He is friendly." Well, that is debatable, but it seemed to be enough for her at that moment.
Tonight after changing a dirty diaper, she ran back downstairs to continue playing, but I knew better than to flush the poop without her assistance. As the minute, she hears the toliet flush, she freaks out. It's as if she has to say goodbye personally to each of her bowel movements. (She also has a peculiar desire to see the contents of each dirty diaper. The moment you pull it away from her body she asks to see it.) So, I hollared after her asking if she wanted to help wisk the poop away. She did come running back up the stairs, but she wasn't sure what I said as her response was, "You asking a question mommy?"
When did this kid become quite the conversationalist? A day doesn't pass without me shaking my head in amazement about the conversations we have or the observations she makes about the world around her.
No Change
No real clues or indications that labor will start naturally before our scheduled check in time on Thursday. Yet, I realize there still is time. I have another NST today at the doctor's office and I'll be curious if the machine picks up any contractions or provides any indication that my body is moving in the general direction of labor. I fear my body is in for a shock come Friday once the pitocin starts coursing through my veins. The awful induction stories that have been lovingly shared with me far outweigh the positive induction stories.
Rather than focusing on how baby boy will arrive, I'm attempting to channel my energy and thoughts into meeting him regardless of how he gets here. While the journey is part of the cherished adventure, this time I'm really looking forward to the end result.
Rather than focusing on how baby boy will arrive, I'm attempting to channel my energy and thoughts into meeting him regardless of how he gets here. While the journey is part of the cherished adventure, this time I'm really looking forward to the end result.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Eviction Notice
The boy has been put on notice by my doctor. If nothing happens by Thursday evening, I am to report to the hospital at 8 pm to get the process started. Full on induction would begin Friday morning, meaning sometime on 4/4 the boy should make his appearance.
My doc thinks there is a distinct possibility and probability that I will have to be induced to get this guy to greet the world. I am not experiencing any contractions and my body and the boy don't seem to be preparing for labor. I did a non-stress test at my appointment just to check in on baby boy and he passed the test with flying colors. My doc expects him to end up between 7 1/2 to 8 lbs.
It's crazy to know I have a definite end date. In the prep department, progress is steadily being made. I wrote a massive list of things I would like to see accomplished before he comes. Mike's only comment was "I am amazed and how your brain works." We tackled quite a few tasks today and tomorrow should be another productive day. What doesn't get done, doesn't get done.
The little guy was showered with some goodies early today as I was the honored guest at a low-key but fun baby shower. Ella tagged along at this "party for girls only" and she was so well-behaved and helpful. She even got a few gifts just for being the big sister. Some of the items for baby boy were completely impractical -- like an adorable blue bow tie and sweater vest (separate outfits), but that was the fun of the shower. After today, this should be one well-dressed kid.
My doc thinks there is a distinct possibility and probability that I will have to be induced to get this guy to greet the world. I am not experiencing any contractions and my body and the boy don't seem to be preparing for labor. I did a non-stress test at my appointment just to check in on baby boy and he passed the test with flying colors. My doc expects him to end up between 7 1/2 to 8 lbs.
It's crazy to know I have a definite end date. In the prep department, progress is steadily being made. I wrote a massive list of things I would like to see accomplished before he comes. Mike's only comment was "I am amazed and how your brain works." We tackled quite a few tasks today and tomorrow should be another productive day. What doesn't get done, doesn't get done.
The little guy was showered with some goodies early today as I was the honored guest at a low-key but fun baby shower. Ella tagged along at this "party for girls only" and she was so well-behaved and helpful. She even got a few gifts just for being the big sister. Some of the items for baby boy were completely impractical -- like an adorable blue bow tie and sweater vest (separate outfits), but that was the fun of the shower. After today, this should be one well-dressed kid.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
From Field Trip to a Panic Attack
Ella is heading on her first-ever field trip. My sweet, precious baby girl will board a bus, take a seat and be transported to Wonderscope with her friends and other kids from the center. When I picked her up today, the permission sheet was waiting for me in her mailbox. It outlined the cost and the fact she will need a sack lunch (that alone confounds me -- what do I pack for Ella that will keep all morning?) I can't believe at the young age of two-years-old that it is time for her first adventure away from the classroom.
I believe she is ready and the staff is more than capable. My concern is the timing. It's scheduled for Monday, April 7th. Her teacher indicated that they need parent volunteers to come along. I would love to witness and participate in the outing, but I'm fairly confident that I'll have a newborn by then and shoved head first into the world of sleep deprivation. Maybe Mike will be able to go? It all depends on when baby boy enters this world. Perhaps the timing is perfect as it will serve as a nice distraction from her world being turned upside down. Regardless, I really don't want her to miss this.
Somehow on the drive home, I went from disbelief regarding this field trip to a complete and utter panic attack. Nothing specific happened. No contraction took my breath away, but once the garage door shut, my emotions instantly shifted. I was stressed and overwhelmed with how unprepared we are. We have tackled quite a bit, but as I walk through the house, I begin to outline a laundry list of things I want to tackle before baby boy comes. I realize everything won't get done, but it doesn't stop me from wanting it done.
Mike walked in and I instantly apologized and said, "I'm on edge. I'm not mad at you, but I'm totally panicking." He, being the wonderful and calm presence in our house, didn't patronize or belittle me. He just said, "I know. It's okay." On top of my panic attack, I started to completely stress eat. I found myself pondering new concrete combinations at Sheridan's and fighting a desire to tear through all of Ella's Easter candy. Can we say stress eater! For a solid 10 minutes, I was paralyzed and could only sit in the nursery rocking and writing a mental list of tasks still to be tackled. I finally convinced myself with Mike's loving prodding to just tackle something, anything. It helped. I started with reviewing what was already packed in the hospital bag and then adding to the list of items we will need to throw in at the last minute. We've made more progress this evening on my extensive mental list and I sincerely hope we have this weekend. Time, time, time is what I need. Mike is racing around the house knocking things off the list. I still have some energy this evening. I better go join him.
I believe she is ready and the staff is more than capable. My concern is the timing. It's scheduled for Monday, April 7th. Her teacher indicated that they need parent volunteers to come along. I would love to witness and participate in the outing, but I'm fairly confident that I'll have a newborn by then and shoved head first into the world of sleep deprivation. Maybe Mike will be able to go? It all depends on when baby boy enters this world. Perhaps the timing is perfect as it will serve as a nice distraction from her world being turned upside down. Regardless, I really don't want her to miss this.
Somehow on the drive home, I went from disbelief regarding this field trip to a complete and utter panic attack. Nothing specific happened. No contraction took my breath away, but once the garage door shut, my emotions instantly shifted. I was stressed and overwhelmed with how unprepared we are. We have tackled quite a bit, but as I walk through the house, I begin to outline a laundry list of things I want to tackle before baby boy comes. I realize everything won't get done, but it doesn't stop me from wanting it done.
Mike walked in and I instantly apologized and said, "I'm on edge. I'm not mad at you, but I'm totally panicking." He, being the wonderful and calm presence in our house, didn't patronize or belittle me. He just said, "I know. It's okay." On top of my panic attack, I started to completely stress eat. I found myself pondering new concrete combinations at Sheridan's and fighting a desire to tear through all of Ella's Easter candy. Can we say stress eater! For a solid 10 minutes, I was paralyzed and could only sit in the nursery rocking and writing a mental list of tasks still to be tackled. I finally convinced myself with Mike's loving prodding to just tackle something, anything. It helped. I started with reviewing what was already packed in the hospital bag and then adding to the list of items we will need to throw in at the last minute. We've made more progress this evening on my extensive mental list and I sincerely hope we have this weekend. Time, time, time is what I need. Mike is racing around the house knocking things off the list. I still have some energy this evening. I better go join him.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Baby Watch
I realized today that Baby Watch 2008 has officially begun. It hit when I walked in to work this morning, and our department's secretary sighed with relief and said, "Good, you're here." My first thought was, "of course, I'm here. I work here." Like an idiot, it registered with me a few seconds later that any day now I could start my day in the hospital and not at work. No, I am not in denial. I do realize this baby is coming. I just don't believe it is going to be any day soon. I really think he is going to need some prodding in order to enter this world.
Our loved ones are definitely rooting for certain days. My sweet and angelic cousin Rachel would have preferred yesterday since it was her birthday. Grandma Pam needs this boy to make an appearance by Saturday, maybe Sunday at the latest, in order to spend some time with him before her job chains her to her desk for the first half of April. And then Uncle Scotty and Auntie T, as well as our good friends the Comers, are hoping the boy makes an appearance before leaving on their vacations.
I am enjoying the anticipation and wondering each day if that will be the day I meet my sweet boy, but it will happen in due time. As crazy as it sounds, I'm fine to still be pregnant in a week. But, will I feel this way a week from now?
Our loved ones are definitely rooting for certain days. My sweet and angelic cousin Rachel would have preferred yesterday since it was her birthday. Grandma Pam needs this boy to make an appearance by Saturday, maybe Sunday at the latest, in order to spend some time with him before her job chains her to her desk for the first half of April. And then Uncle Scotty and Auntie T, as well as our good friends the Comers, are hoping the boy makes an appearance before leaving on their vacations.
I am enjoying the anticipation and wondering each day if that will be the day I meet my sweet boy, but it will happen in due time. As crazy as it sounds, I'm fine to still be pregnant in a week. But, will I feel this way a week from now?
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