So, I was lying in bed last night after putting Hunter back down (she had already been up for an hour), and I could NOT go back to sleep! I kept thinking of things that I needed to do, things that I want to buy (but have no money), and things that I should blog about.
One of these was this:
How do men ignore all the stuff that needs done? I mean really, I know that I am not alone in this, and I'm really not complaining at all... I just want to know. How is it possible that a man can just not see that the dishwasher needs unloaded, or the laundry needs switched over or the bottles need made? I really, really am not complaining, I really, really just want to know. Case in point: The other day, I was sick, and I went to bed (literally) at 5pm as soon as Justin got home from work. I slept great, got up with the baby in the night, and felt awesome the next morning. I got up with the girls, and went to get a bottle for Hunter out of the fridge, only to find that there weren't any more bottles for Hunter, so I had to make one. No biggie. Later, I asked my husband why he had not made bottles the night before, and he replied, "but, you didn't ask me to make bottles." And he's right. I hadn't asked him to make the bottles. But, every night, I make bottles for the next day. And every night, he asks me what I'm doing, and I reply that I'm making bottles for the next day. I really wasn't (and am not) mad about this situation. I just want to know. How does he ignore this?
Another one: breastfeeding.
I'll admit it: I used to be just a little judgmental of those women who chose to bottle (formula) feed their infants, instead of breastfeeding. I always thought that I would breastfeed my babies, and that they would be happier and healthier for my efforts. Until I had kids. Here's what no one tells you (or at least no one told me) about breastfeeding: it's really, really hard. At least it was for me.
With Lena, she was in the NICU for six days, and I was not allowed out of my hospital bed for 24 hours after she was born. So I didn't get to see her for 24 hours, let alone practice nursing her. So I pumped. For 8 weeks, I pumped every 3 hours and bottle-fed her breastmilk, supplementing with formula. I am convinced that my full capacity of milk never really 'let down' or 'came in' or whatever you want to call it. Even after she was out of the NICU and eating fine, we just couldn't get the hang of it, and I hated pumping. I felt like a cow at the milking barn. Not good.
With Hunter, we had a much better pregnancy and delivery, so she and I were able to practice right away. And things looked great! She was nursing like a champ, and my milk actually came in this time! Everything was great! Until we came home from the hospital. Hunter did a great job of nursing... she was latching on a sucking away just like she should. I don't know what happened exactly, but at 2am, I was sobbing, she was sobbing, and my nipples were bleeding. I mean bleeding. Like she had been chewing on them with sharp, nasty little-girl teeth. I could not take it anymore. I caved and got her a bottle. Well, Justin got her a bottle. Because he couldn't handle me sobbing and her sobbing anymore. And you know what? It's three weeks later, and we're both fine. My boobs have healed, and Hunter is growing like a little weed. We're fine.
Here's what I have learned from these two experiences: The main point in all this is to have happy, healthy kids. And I do. Lena is doing just fine, and so is Hunter. They will both be fine. As will I. Justin can (and does) help with feeding Hunter. Yay! And, I don't have to worry about pumping when I go back to work in a few short weeks (tear :( )
Here are a few more:
Where are the gargantuan, gross flies coming from? Every time I kill one, four more show up for revenge! WTH???
Why do some people insist on driving like maniacs every time it snows?
Why do old men love little kids so much? Whenever I take my kids (especially Lena) anywhere, the old men always want to stop and talk to her... I love it and so does she!
Why is it that as soon as I fall asleep or put lunch in the oven, Hunter wakes up and wants to eat?
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The final 4 weeks... aka You might be REALLY pregnant when...
Here are just a few of the funny things that I can/not do because I am REALLY pregnant...
1. I wear the same flip-flops every day to work because they are my 'dressy' ones (they are leather and smell like sweaty feet), and I can't bend over to tie shoe laces. Plus, I am HOT all the time.
2. I went and got a pedicure the other day because I can't reach my toes without suffocating myself. That can't be good for the baby!
3. Each time I sneeze or cough forcefully (or sometimes when I laugh hard) I wet my pants, just a little... not good when you teach middle school.
3. a. I use the restroom at least 5 times during the school day, not to mention the times at home. And usually, when I think I REALLY have to go, I sit down and there's a little tiny tinkle that comes out... repeat every hour or two.
4. I use the elevator at school every chance I get, so I don't have to walk up three flights of stairs multiple times per day. Plus, I am HOT all the time, and the extra exertion does nothing good for my sweaty state.
5. I pretty much live in stretchy pants these days... even my preggo jeans are just not as comfy. Plus, they are hotter than my stretchy pants, and I don't mean that in a 'wow, baby you're hot' kind of way... more like a 'sweaty bowling ball with legs' kind of way.
6. Even sleeping makes me hot.
7. Acid Reflux... at 2am... thank God for Zantac!
8. Gotta pee... at 3am... every night.
9. My seatbelt keeps shifting up to my neck, and down across my upper thighs.
10. I really don't feel the least bit guilty about gaining weight right now... quite possibly the only time(s) in my life to NOT feel guilty about that!
11. I LOVE it when people ask to touch my belly... and I usually let them. Just please, ask first!
12. It's getting difficult to do laundry, because my belly is in the way. Oh, darn... maybe Justin will have to do some laundry! :)
13. The thought of certain things makes me want to vomit... anything from certain foods to certain people to certain smells... this has evolved over the pregnancy.
14. My husband, God bless him, thinks that I am sexy. I do not share his thoughts on this. Let's just say there's a little disappointment on both sides of this argument.
15. Cherry Coke is the best drink on earth, especially if it's the kind made with Grenadine from the soda fountain. Last pregnancy it was lemonade (Chik-fil-a) or Root Beer, which I both still love, but this time, it's cherry coke all the way.
16. Ice cream is seriously the best. invention. ever. I could eat it every single day. And most days, I do.
Please feel free to add your thoughts on this... these are just some things that I could think of today.
1. I wear the same flip-flops every day to work because they are my 'dressy' ones (they are leather and smell like sweaty feet), and I can't bend over to tie shoe laces. Plus, I am HOT all the time.
2. I went and got a pedicure the other day because I can't reach my toes without suffocating myself. That can't be good for the baby!
3. Each time I sneeze or cough forcefully (or sometimes when I laugh hard) I wet my pants, just a little... not good when you teach middle school.
3. a. I use the restroom at least 5 times during the school day, not to mention the times at home. And usually, when I think I REALLY have to go, I sit down and there's a little tiny tinkle that comes out... repeat every hour or two.
4. I use the elevator at school every chance I get, so I don't have to walk up three flights of stairs multiple times per day. Plus, I am HOT all the time, and the extra exertion does nothing good for my sweaty state.
5. I pretty much live in stretchy pants these days... even my preggo jeans are just not as comfy. Plus, they are hotter than my stretchy pants, and I don't mean that in a 'wow, baby you're hot' kind of way... more like a 'sweaty bowling ball with legs' kind of way.
6. Even sleeping makes me hot.
7. Acid Reflux... at 2am... thank God for Zantac!
8. Gotta pee... at 3am... every night.
9. My seatbelt keeps shifting up to my neck, and down across my upper thighs.
10. I really don't feel the least bit guilty about gaining weight right now... quite possibly the only time(s) in my life to NOT feel guilty about that!
11. I LOVE it when people ask to touch my belly... and I usually let them. Just please, ask first!
12. It's getting difficult to do laundry, because my belly is in the way. Oh, darn... maybe Justin will have to do some laundry! :)
13. The thought of certain things makes me want to vomit... anything from certain foods to certain people to certain smells... this has evolved over the pregnancy.
14. My husband, God bless him, thinks that I am sexy. I do not share his thoughts on this. Let's just say there's a little disappointment on both sides of this argument.
15. Cherry Coke is the best drink on earth, especially if it's the kind made with Grenadine from the soda fountain. Last pregnancy it was lemonade (Chik-fil-a) or Root Beer, which I both still love, but this time, it's cherry coke all the way.
16. Ice cream is seriously the best. invention. ever. I could eat it every single day. And most days, I do.
Please feel free to add your thoughts on this... these are just some things that I could think of today.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Adventures in Day Care
Since I started working again this fall (more on that later), Lena has been in full-time day care. In August, when school started, she went to a local, church-run day care/preschool/after school care. This was extremely convenient, as it is directly between our house and the school where I work... total commute: 4 miles per day. Awesome! The price was reasonable as well, especially since it was pay-as-you go, and I was doing homework help after school to offset some of the cost. Awesome again... until. Until Lena came home one Friday afternoon with two large, angry red bite marks on her back. One by her shoulder blade, and the other right in the middle. Justin and I were not aware of this until we gave her a bath later that night (about 6:30pm). Of course, the day care was closed when I called, so I left a fairly angry message (I didn't cuss or anything, though) on the machine, and took photos of these marks. They were the size of quarters, and you could definitely see the individual teeth marks.
The next morning, I called the director of the day care at home (I know, kind of a crazy-mom thing to do), to ask if she had known about this and just not told me, or if she was even aware. She was not aware, and when I told her what had apparently happened, she brushed it off as a 'these things happen' kind of thing. No apology offered, no explanation other than 'sometimes kids bite'. Needless to say, my husband and I were NOT happy. I calmly told her that I would be in on Monday to get Lena's things, and that we would not be back. Again, no apology offered, just an 'oh, well, that's too bad, we'll miss you.' Later that day, I received an email from the director, saying that she had spoken with Lena's teacher, and that she was also not aware that any biting had occurred. She said that Lena was 'a little fussy' before lunch, but that Lena usually is a little fussy, so she didn't think anything of it. (There was a sort-of apology in the email).
Now, I know I'm going to sound like the crazy mom a little bit here, but indulge me if you will... I know my child. She is the kid who screams bloody murder when she accidentally bites her own finger, trips and falls, or pinches her finger in the cabinet drawer. I know, in my heart, that when she was bitten, she was more than 'a little fussy' for longer than 'normal'. If this child bit her so hard as to leave marks over a week later, I know she screamed like a banshee and freaked out. So, two things: 1) if Lena was screaming this hard every single day, then there must have been something else wrong; and 2) if some kid had enough time to bite my child this hard on the back, twice, there is not enough supervision at this day care.
So, much searching for a new day care ensued. Justin's and my relatives were amazing enough to take care of Lena from Monday through Thursday (thanks Aunt Toka, Ashley, and Mom) while I searched for a new day care. By Tuesday, I had seen three different in-home day cares, and decided on one that is farther away from our house (1 mile was hard to beat), but is a much calmer, smaller environment. Lena, Justin and I have been extremely happy with this woman for the last month. She is awesome. And, the cost is less than the other place was, too!
Our decision to move Lena was definitely the correct one... we are all much happier and less stressed.
I think that my biggest problem with the whole thing is that, instead of being apologetic and mortified that this happened to my child, the director just made it sound like this was an every day occurrence and that I shouldn't be surprised or upset. I really do understand that some kids bite, and that you can't possibly watch every kid every second of every day. I get it. What I don't get is how no one noticed that Lena was freaking out (and I know she was), and no one bothered to check under her clothes for the reason that she might be freaking out (because I know she was). What I don't understand is how anyone in the business of caring for other people's children can be so callous as to say to a parent 'these things happen' and not offer an apology or explanation for the behavior.
After being able to stay home with Lena last year, it is hard for me to take her to day care full-time, no matter how much I enjoy my job. Knowing that she is being well-cared-for makes my day a whole lot easier.
The next morning, I called the director of the day care at home (I know, kind of a crazy-mom thing to do), to ask if she had known about this and just not told me, or if she was even aware. She was not aware, and when I told her what had apparently happened, she brushed it off as a 'these things happen' kind of thing. No apology offered, no explanation other than 'sometimes kids bite'. Needless to say, my husband and I were NOT happy. I calmly told her that I would be in on Monday to get Lena's things, and that we would not be back. Again, no apology offered, just an 'oh, well, that's too bad, we'll miss you.' Later that day, I received an email from the director, saying that she had spoken with Lena's teacher, and that she was also not aware that any biting had occurred. She said that Lena was 'a little fussy' before lunch, but that Lena usually is a little fussy, so she didn't think anything of it. (There was a sort-of apology in the email).
Now, I know I'm going to sound like the crazy mom a little bit here, but indulge me if you will... I know my child. She is the kid who screams bloody murder when she accidentally bites her own finger, trips and falls, or pinches her finger in the cabinet drawer. I know, in my heart, that when she was bitten, she was more than 'a little fussy' for longer than 'normal'. If this child bit her so hard as to leave marks over a week later, I know she screamed like a banshee and freaked out. So, two things: 1) if Lena was screaming this hard every single day, then there must have been something else wrong; and 2) if some kid had enough time to bite my child this hard on the back, twice, there is not enough supervision at this day care.
So, much searching for a new day care ensued. Justin's and my relatives were amazing enough to take care of Lena from Monday through Thursday (thanks Aunt Toka, Ashley, and Mom) while I searched for a new day care. By Tuesday, I had seen three different in-home day cares, and decided on one that is farther away from our house (1 mile was hard to beat), but is a much calmer, smaller environment. Lena, Justin and I have been extremely happy with this woman for the last month. She is awesome. And, the cost is less than the other place was, too!
Our decision to move Lena was definitely the correct one... we are all much happier and less stressed.
I think that my biggest problem with the whole thing is that, instead of being apologetic and mortified that this happened to my child, the director just made it sound like this was an every day occurrence and that I shouldn't be surprised or upset. I really do understand that some kids bite, and that you can't possibly watch every kid every second of every day. I get it. What I don't get is how no one noticed that Lena was freaking out (and I know she was), and no one bothered to check under her clothes for the reason that she might be freaking out (because I know she was). What I don't understand is how anyone in the business of caring for other people's children can be so callous as to say to a parent 'these things happen' and not offer an apology or explanation for the behavior.
After being able to stay home with Lena last year, it is hard for me to take her to day care full-time, no matter how much I enjoy my job. Knowing that she is being well-cared-for makes my day a whole lot easier.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Can't we all just be nice?
Can't we all just be nice?
I now understand a little more why some parents just can't understand why their kids are so rude to teachers and others around them. Lena and I went to visit my family last week, and went to a little league baseball game to watch my nephews play. The 'team' mom who was keeping score on 'our' side was also the person keeping the batting order, and telling the kids who was up next and who needed to get ready. Now, most of us would picture a team mom as being someone very patient, kind, and sensitive. This woman was none of those things. She did not once get up off her perch on an overturned bucket, screaming out the boys' names while not even turning to look and see who she was talking to. There are two Max's on the team, one of them my nephew, and when my nephew very calmly went up to ask her who was up next, she kept screaming at him that Max was next, but not him... how was he supposed to know? This woman's children (not on the team) were also at the park, and running around with other kids playing. She just kept screaming at her daughter to bring her something to drink, where's my phone, put on your shoes. It went on and on. My mom, brother, and I chuckled to ourselves as we walked away... and now I know why some kids are so rude to others. And why teachers do actually have to teach kids how to be kind and gentle to others. Can't we all just be nice?
While walking at the RiverWalk in Mishawaka (a very nice, wide, paved path for walkers and bikers right along the river), almost everyone that you meet or that passes you says some sort of greeting. My friend and her mom were walking with me the other day, and they were both marveling at the thought that people would actually greet one another while walking by. Is this really just a "small town" thing, as they both seemed to think, or does it have more to do with the fact that we were all sweaty and gross in public? Can't we all just be nice?
I have noticed that I am apparently the only person in Wal-Mart to ever say 'hello' or 'excuse me' to people that I don't know (besides the greeter, that's her job). I always get strange, sometimes dirty, looks from strangers when I actually say something nice to them. Although, when I have Lena with me, people are more friendly (for the most part). I guess the baby is the universal equalizer.
Can't we all just be nice?
I know, I know... those of you that actually know me well will say that I am being a bit of a hypocrite here, and that I have been known to not be so nice to everyone. I'm working on it. Part of my working on it is thinking (and writing) more about places and situations where I could be nicer to others, and acting in a better way. Trying to remember the 'Golden Rule' and treat people the way I want to be treated.
Can't we all just be nice?
I now understand a little more why some parents just can't understand why their kids are so rude to teachers and others around them. Lena and I went to visit my family last week, and went to a little league baseball game to watch my nephews play. The 'team' mom who was keeping score on 'our' side was also the person keeping the batting order, and telling the kids who was up next and who needed to get ready. Now, most of us would picture a team mom as being someone very patient, kind, and sensitive. This woman was none of those things. She did not once get up off her perch on an overturned bucket, screaming out the boys' names while not even turning to look and see who she was talking to. There are two Max's on the team, one of them my nephew, and when my nephew very calmly went up to ask her who was up next, she kept screaming at him that Max was next, but not him... how was he supposed to know? This woman's children (not on the team) were also at the park, and running around with other kids playing. She just kept screaming at her daughter to bring her something to drink, where's my phone, put on your shoes. It went on and on. My mom, brother, and I chuckled to ourselves as we walked away... and now I know why some kids are so rude to others. And why teachers do actually have to teach kids how to be kind and gentle to others. Can't we all just be nice?
While walking at the RiverWalk in Mishawaka (a very nice, wide, paved path for walkers and bikers right along the river), almost everyone that you meet or that passes you says some sort of greeting. My friend and her mom were walking with me the other day, and they were both marveling at the thought that people would actually greet one another while walking by. Is this really just a "small town" thing, as they both seemed to think, or does it have more to do with the fact that we were all sweaty and gross in public? Can't we all just be nice?
I have noticed that I am apparently the only person in Wal-Mart to ever say 'hello' or 'excuse me' to people that I don't know (besides the greeter, that's her job). I always get strange, sometimes dirty, looks from strangers when I actually say something nice to them. Although, when I have Lena with me, people are more friendly (for the most part). I guess the baby is the universal equalizer.
Can't we all just be nice?
I know, I know... those of you that actually know me well will say that I am being a bit of a hypocrite here, and that I have been known to not be so nice to everyone. I'm working on it. Part of my working on it is thinking (and writing) more about places and situations where I could be nicer to others, and acting in a better way. Trying to remember the 'Golden Rule' and treat people the way I want to be treated.
Can't we all just be nice?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
2 months is a long time...
I just realized it's been two months since I last posted, and I'm sure there's some stuff I could write about...
In the last two months, I have cried on the phone to my mother twice (that I can recall) about things that I have no control over. Once, when Lena just kept screaming and wouldn't go to sleep and I didn't know what to do. And, once, when I was panicked about our financial situation. Both worked themselves out, and things are fine now. In fact, Lena's napping right now. I think some of it's the hormones, and some of it's just me, but I really try not to cry about things that are out of my control, but sometimes, it just hits my like a ton of bricks and I have to let it go...
Lena's first birthday was a HUGE success! We had 47 people at our house for a "small, family" gathering on June 12th, which was her actual birthday. There were hot dogs, beer, cupcakes, and lots of presents. There were aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. There was a big tent, several tables, and lots of chairs. The weather was absolutely perfect. AND the new living room was finished to show off to people! A lot has happened in the last year, and we look forward to the many many years to come.
I've had Lena back in the pool a few times, and she looooves swimming! In fact, she has decided that she doesn't need me to swim (even though I won't let go), jumping off my legs and reaching for whatever or whomever she wants. She 'jumps' in from the side, and puts her own face in the water, and kicks like crazy... I am so glad that she loves the water as much as I do. Michael Phelps was on the Today Show this morning... an omen? I think so! Look out for the 2028 Summer Olympics... Lena will be 18 and on the team, I'm sure :)
Lena is now standing on her own (until she realizes that she's doing it), crawling all over the place, and walking with assistance. She still only says mama and dada, but she knows what lots of other words mean (especially NO) :)
Change of subject (kind of)...
I read an article recently about parenting, written by a daddy, and I took away something that really makes me notice a lot about how I (and others) react to other people's input. This is his stance in a nutshell: when someone compliments your child, please don't say something like "you want him? Take him home with you for two hours... hahaha" This author's stance is that this reaction devalues your child, often in front of the child, and devalues the job you are doing as the parent of that child. Since I read this article, I have tried to be more conscious of how I react to other people's compliments of my child. Now, I'm really not trying to brag at all, because I KNOW it's not my doing, but my kid is seriously one of the easiest children to have around that I have ever seen. She is calm when other kids are crazy; she doesn't scream or cry when she's exhausted (unless she's in her own crib and doesn't want to go to sleep); she eats pretty much anything I give her... I could go on. As I said, though, I KNOW this is not entirely the way that I parent, but I would like to take credit for some of her easy-going-ness. Anyway, Lena and I were at a friend's pool the other day, and my friend kept complimenting me on how well Lena was doing, even though she was clearly tired and probably hungry. I very graciously said 'thank you' and marveled myself at how well she was doing. Before reading this daddy's opinion, I would have probably said something like 'oh, you want her to stay with you for a week?' but I refrained from saying that. I don't want Lena to grow up thinking that I will give her away to the first person who thinks she's cute or funny or well-behaved. So thank you, daddy with an opinion, for opening my eyes to something that many parents do without a thought. I'm thinking more about it.
In the last two months, I have cried on the phone to my mother twice (that I can recall) about things that I have no control over. Once, when Lena just kept screaming and wouldn't go to sleep and I didn't know what to do. And, once, when I was panicked about our financial situation. Both worked themselves out, and things are fine now. In fact, Lena's napping right now. I think some of it's the hormones, and some of it's just me, but I really try not to cry about things that are out of my control, but sometimes, it just hits my like a ton of bricks and I have to let it go...
Lena's first birthday was a HUGE success! We had 47 people at our house for a "small, family" gathering on June 12th, which was her actual birthday. There were hot dogs, beer, cupcakes, and lots of presents. There were aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. There was a big tent, several tables, and lots of chairs. The weather was absolutely perfect. AND the new living room was finished to show off to people! A lot has happened in the last year, and we look forward to the many many years to come.
I've had Lena back in the pool a few times, and she looooves swimming! In fact, she has decided that she doesn't need me to swim (even though I won't let go), jumping off my legs and reaching for whatever or whomever she wants. She 'jumps' in from the side, and puts her own face in the water, and kicks like crazy... I am so glad that she loves the water as much as I do. Michael Phelps was on the Today Show this morning... an omen? I think so! Look out for the 2028 Summer Olympics... Lena will be 18 and on the team, I'm sure :)
Lena is now standing on her own (until she realizes that she's doing it), crawling all over the place, and walking with assistance. She still only says mama and dada, but she knows what lots of other words mean (especially NO) :)
Change of subject (kind of)...
I read an article recently about parenting, written by a daddy, and I took away something that really makes me notice a lot about how I (and others) react to other people's input. This is his stance in a nutshell: when someone compliments your child, please don't say something like "you want him? Take him home with you for two hours... hahaha" This author's stance is that this reaction devalues your child, often in front of the child, and devalues the job you are doing as the parent of that child. Since I read this article, I have tried to be more conscious of how I react to other people's compliments of my child. Now, I'm really not trying to brag at all, because I KNOW it's not my doing, but my kid is seriously one of the easiest children to have around that I have ever seen. She is calm when other kids are crazy; she doesn't scream or cry when she's exhausted (unless she's in her own crib and doesn't want to go to sleep); she eats pretty much anything I give her... I could go on. As I said, though, I KNOW this is not entirely the way that I parent, but I would like to take credit for some of her easy-going-ness. Anyway, Lena and I were at a friend's pool the other day, and my friend kept complimenting me on how well Lena was doing, even though she was clearly tired and probably hungry. I very graciously said 'thank you' and marveled myself at how well she was doing. Before reading this daddy's opinion, I would have probably said something like 'oh, you want her to stay with you for a week?' but I refrained from saying that. I don't want Lena to grow up thinking that I will give her away to the first person who thinks she's cute or funny or well-behaved. So thank you, daddy with an opinion, for opening my eyes to something that many parents do without a thought. I'm thinking more about it.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Crying Husband
On Sunday, Lena and I had quite a busy day. As it was Palm Sunday, the church service was a little longer than usual, which wasn't a problem, except that Lena had not had a nap yet (she usually does two - one am and one pm), and she was a little like a spider monkey on crack. It is very difficult to pay attention in church when a spider monkey on crack is climbing me like I'm one of those cat-climbing feature thingys. Anyway, we came home from church, and I immediately took her upstairs to finish the nap that she had begun in the car. She slept for over an hour, at which point I had to wake her up to go to a baby shower. More about that later.
At around 3:30, Lena was again acting like a spider monkey on crack at this very upscale home where said baby shower was taking place, so we made a quick exit and I took her back home. Once again, I attempted to carefully carry her upstairs to finish her nap. Sure that she would fall back asleep shortly, I made a quick exit to go to Wal-Mart and (maybe) get a pedicure... I have not had a pedi since September, and it's getting really bad!
Alone time for me is at platinum-premium prices right now, as Justin is working 7 days a week, and has school 2 nights a week. I take her to daycare, but only if I'm working at one of the schools subbing. I cannot afford to take her if I'm not making the money to cover the cost. So I was extremely excited at the prospect of going out ALONE!
p.s. One of the daycare ladies tried to 'shame' me because I don't take her every day, so she isn't used to everyone yet... sorry, lady! I cannot afford to take her to daycare if I'm NOT WORKING! Besides that, I enjoy spending extra time with my little darling.
I was mid-aisle in Wal-Mart when my phone began its rendition of Dave Matthews' "You and Me Together..." Knowing it was Justin, I answered the phone. Immediately, I heard Lena screaming in the background and some sort of loud gibberish coming from Justin's mouth. I went into slight panic mode, thinking there must be some sort of medical emergency, and that I would have to meet them at the hospital. "What's wrong?" I asked, all sorts of crazy emergency-type situations running through my brain. (She fell off the changing table, and blood is coming out of her ear; She ate something very questionable off the floor, and I think part of it is stuck in her throat; She almost drowned in the bathtub...) "She won't stop crying!" he screamed into the phone... "She didn't go back to sleep at all, and she has been screaming since you left! She just shit her pants, and while I was cleaning that up, one of the dogs shit on the floor in the living room!" All this came out as one screamed sentence. I very calmly said "Oh, well, I'm sorry honey. What do you want me to do?" "COME HOME NOW!" Well, since I was at least 1/2 hour from the house, I said that I would do my best to be home soon. I went through my list of what might be wrong, giving suggestions for what might make her happy for a few minutes. Number one being 'have you fed her yet?' 'No, I was just getting ready to.' Ok, that's probably the problem, since it's now 5pm and that's when she usually eats. I'll be home as soon as I can. And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, after I have frantically run all over Wal-Mart trying to find the two things that I went there for (and precariously balancing the ten items that I did NOT go there for), Dave Matthews starts singing again. I answer the phone, thinking that there must be some new calamity. "I'm sorry for yelling at you" wow... wasn't expecting that "I was just overwhelmed. I fed her some crackers and she stopped crying." I was thinking (but not saying) well, duh, feed her! That's usually part of the problem. Not that I'm a baby whisperer. I said "Ok, honey, I'm working on coming home and I'll be there soon. Try to give her some Tylenol, as I'm sure her teeth are hurting her again, and that's part of the problem." And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, as I was trying to unlock the car and get in, Dave started singing, so I answered the phone again, a little exasperated. "What are we doing for dinner? Can you go to Taco Bell?" ummm... sure. I was going to go get a pedicure... do I have time for that? "NO! I need you to come home before then, but get Taco Bell first." Ok, fine... I went to Taco Bell, and my toes are still woefully bare.
At around 3:30, Lena was again acting like a spider monkey on crack at this very upscale home where said baby shower was taking place, so we made a quick exit and I took her back home. Once again, I attempted to carefully carry her upstairs to finish her nap. Sure that she would fall back asleep shortly, I made a quick exit to go to Wal-Mart and (maybe) get a pedicure... I have not had a pedi since September, and it's getting really bad!
Alone time for me is at platinum-premium prices right now, as Justin is working 7 days a week, and has school 2 nights a week. I take her to daycare, but only if I'm working at one of the schools subbing. I cannot afford to take her if I'm not making the money to cover the cost. So I was extremely excited at the prospect of going out ALONE!
p.s. One of the daycare ladies tried to 'shame' me because I don't take her every day, so she isn't used to everyone yet... sorry, lady! I cannot afford to take her to daycare if I'm NOT WORKING! Besides that, I enjoy spending extra time with my little darling.
I was mid-aisle in Wal-Mart when my phone began its rendition of Dave Matthews' "You and Me Together..." Knowing it was Justin, I answered the phone. Immediately, I heard Lena screaming in the background and some sort of loud gibberish coming from Justin's mouth. I went into slight panic mode, thinking there must be some sort of medical emergency, and that I would have to meet them at the hospital. "What's wrong?" I asked, all sorts of crazy emergency-type situations running through my brain. (She fell off the changing table, and blood is coming out of her ear; She ate something very questionable off the floor, and I think part of it is stuck in her throat; She almost drowned in the bathtub...) "She won't stop crying!" he screamed into the phone... "She didn't go back to sleep at all, and she has been screaming since you left! She just shit her pants, and while I was cleaning that up, one of the dogs shit on the floor in the living room!" All this came out as one screamed sentence. I very calmly said "Oh, well, I'm sorry honey. What do you want me to do?" "COME HOME NOW!" Well, since I was at least 1/2 hour from the house, I said that I would do my best to be home soon. I went through my list of what might be wrong, giving suggestions for what might make her happy for a few minutes. Number one being 'have you fed her yet?' 'No, I was just getting ready to.' Ok, that's probably the problem, since it's now 5pm and that's when she usually eats. I'll be home as soon as I can. And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, after I have frantically run all over Wal-Mart trying to find the two things that I went there for (and precariously balancing the ten items that I did NOT go there for), Dave Matthews starts singing again. I answer the phone, thinking that there must be some new calamity. "I'm sorry for yelling at you" wow... wasn't expecting that "I was just overwhelmed. I fed her some crackers and she stopped crying." I was thinking (but not saying) well, duh, feed her! That's usually part of the problem. Not that I'm a baby whisperer. I said "Ok, honey, I'm working on coming home and I'll be there soon. Try to give her some Tylenol, as I'm sure her teeth are hurting her again, and that's part of the problem." And we hang up.
Ten minutes later, as I was trying to unlock the car and get in, Dave started singing, so I answered the phone again, a little exasperated. "What are we doing for dinner? Can you go to Taco Bell?" ummm... sure. I was going to go get a pedicure... do I have time for that? "NO! I need you to come home before then, but get Taco Bell first." Ok, fine... I went to Taco Bell, and my toes are still woefully bare.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Ways Lena has changed my life...
So, I was thinking tonight about how many ways that Lena has changed my life, and I thought I'd just go ahead and write about it. I know that most of what I have to say will come across as "duh" moments to you other mommies out there, but some of this stuff you just don't think about till you have a kid.
1. I realized last night that I still love thunderstorms, but they stress me out in an all new way: listening for the tornado siren and wanting to get up and go turn on the TV to watch the radar. I did not actually get up and go watch the radar, mostly because it was about 2am, but I did lay awake listening to the storm, and praying there wasn't a tornado. The whole time I was planning how we would get down to the basement, and what I would try to grab on the way (besides Lena): cell phone, flashlight (and where is that flashlight?), blankets, maybe a random bottle of water, etc, etc.
2. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without feeling like a sherpa. I have new respect for sherpas. The diaper bag is much less necessary these days, as Lena is eating regular table food and not shitting her pants quite as often. But, sure as I don't bring it with me, she will have a blow out and we will be stuck with no diapers or wipes and no change of clothes.
2.a. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without planning it out in advance. i.e. Will I need the stroller? Will we be outside for very long? Does Lena need a jacket? Do I have the shopping cart cover thing? Do I really need the shopping cart cover thing? Does this store have close enough parking? (no, they don't)... and it continues until we get to where we are going, and beyond. My car looks like a Babies R Us exploded in it!
3. I can't go to the bathroom truly by myself (and yes, I know this gets worse once she's mobile) unless Lena's sleeping. Even then, I always have one ear cocked to hear her.
4. It is very, very difficult to pay attention in church when you have a 20-lb. spider monkey climbing all over you. I love our church, and I know that the mostly very old congregation either can't hear her or doesn't care if she's loud. But even when she's quiet, she's still climbing me like a freaking spider monkey.
5. Even though she's the smallest person I know, she still produces lots of laundry and dishes! WTH??
6. Driving defensively takes on a whole new meaning. That pounding loud music in the car next to me? All I can think is "Please don't wake her up; she just went to sleep!" I am constantly scanning the roadside for deer (or other animals that may want to sabotage my trip to town). I am constantly worried about whether she is strapped into the carseat correctly, and whether the seat is strapped in correctly. I constantly drive with my lights on. I coast a LOT more, choosing to save my brakes for when I might actually need them. I have dreams about car accidents and wake up in a panic.
7. You can never have too many diapers. Or wipes. Or white onesies. Or blankies. Or pacis. Or lovies. Or bottles.
8. The baby monitor is evil. It monopolizes my TV watching time.
9. I have never laughed so much with one person than I have in the last 10 months... she is truly a funny baby, and makes me smile every single second.
10. Teething must hurt like a sonofabitch. Thank God for baby Tylenol.
11. Sweet potatoes come out the same consistency and color that they went in... ewwwww! So does corn.
12. I have generally much more patience for the public at large... I just think about them as babies, and it really does help! Plus, most people can't help but smile and giggle a little when they see a baby.
13. There are some parenting skills that I may never acquire, but that doesn't make me any less of a good parent. Just not the same as someone else.
14. I go to bed very early, rise very early, and take as many naps as I can. I love a good nap.
15. Making baby food is super easy, and waaaaay cheaper and healthier than the store-bought stuff... why don't more people do it?
16. I do not miss my former life. At all. I do miss a good night's sleep. But, according to every parent I've ever spoken to, I will not return to good night's sleeps until after Lena grows up and moves out. And even then, it's not the same.
17. I love my husband for the man that he is, and for the man that he has become since Lena joined us. We are a strong, loving family, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
1. I realized last night that I still love thunderstorms, but they stress me out in an all new way: listening for the tornado siren and wanting to get up and go turn on the TV to watch the radar. I did not actually get up and go watch the radar, mostly because it was about 2am, but I did lay awake listening to the storm, and praying there wasn't a tornado. The whole time I was planning how we would get down to the basement, and what I would try to grab on the way (besides Lena): cell phone, flashlight (and where is that flashlight?), blankets, maybe a random bottle of water, etc, etc.
2. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without feeling like a sherpa. I have new respect for sherpas. The diaper bag is much less necessary these days, as Lena is eating regular table food and not shitting her pants quite as often. But, sure as I don't bring it with me, she will have a blow out and we will be stuck with no diapers or wipes and no change of clothes.
2.a. I absolutely cannot go anywhere without planning it out in advance. i.e. Will I need the stroller? Will we be outside for very long? Does Lena need a jacket? Do I have the shopping cart cover thing? Do I really need the shopping cart cover thing? Does this store have close enough parking? (no, they don't)... and it continues until we get to where we are going, and beyond. My car looks like a Babies R Us exploded in it!
3. I can't go to the bathroom truly by myself (and yes, I know this gets worse once she's mobile) unless Lena's sleeping. Even then, I always have one ear cocked to hear her.
4. It is very, very difficult to pay attention in church when you have a 20-lb. spider monkey climbing all over you. I love our church, and I know that the mostly very old congregation either can't hear her or doesn't care if she's loud. But even when she's quiet, she's still climbing me like a freaking spider monkey.
5. Even though she's the smallest person I know, she still produces lots of laundry and dishes! WTH??
6. Driving defensively takes on a whole new meaning. That pounding loud music in the car next to me? All I can think is "Please don't wake her up; she just went to sleep!" I am constantly scanning the roadside for deer (or other animals that may want to sabotage my trip to town). I am constantly worried about whether she is strapped into the carseat correctly, and whether the seat is strapped in correctly. I constantly drive with my lights on. I coast a LOT more, choosing to save my brakes for when I might actually need them. I have dreams about car accidents and wake up in a panic.
7. You can never have too many diapers. Or wipes. Or white onesies. Or blankies. Or pacis. Or lovies. Or bottles.
8. The baby monitor is evil. It monopolizes my TV watching time.
9. I have never laughed so much with one person than I have in the last 10 months... she is truly a funny baby, and makes me smile every single second.
10. Teething must hurt like a sonofabitch. Thank God for baby Tylenol.
11. Sweet potatoes come out the same consistency and color that they went in... ewwwww! So does corn.
12. I have generally much more patience for the public at large... I just think about them as babies, and it really does help! Plus, most people can't help but smile and giggle a little when they see a baby.
13. There are some parenting skills that I may never acquire, but that doesn't make me any less of a good parent. Just not the same as someone else.
14. I go to bed very early, rise very early, and take as many naps as I can. I love a good nap.
15. Making baby food is super easy, and waaaaay cheaper and healthier than the store-bought stuff... why don't more people do it?
16. I do not miss my former life. At all. I do miss a good night's sleep. But, according to every parent I've ever spoken to, I will not return to good night's sleeps until after Lena grows up and moves out. And even then, it's not the same.
17. I love my husband for the man that he is, and for the man that he has become since Lena joined us. We are a strong, loving family, and I couldn't ask for more than that.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Can of Worms...
So... my question is this... if there is something in your life that is making you nervous, sweaty, stressed out, and so on... shouldn't you just open the damn can of worms and figure the thing out?
Without going into major details, here's part of the story. I opened a major can of worms. I mean huge. And I don't know what's going to happen with it now. Hopefully, the people whose worms I just threw everywhere will realize that they have to deal with the worms to solve the problem of the worms. These worms have been eating at me for over a year and a half, causing much distress not only for me, but for everyone involved.
To me, it's kind of like when your tire starts making a slight thumping noise and shaking the car... you know the tire is going to go flat pretty soon, so you better buck up and do something about it, or you're gonna have even more car repairs to go through. You can't drive around with three tires. It doesn't work (although some of the criminals featured on the show COPS might disagree). And when your car has many, many people riding in it, that makes the fourth tire even more important. You definitely don't want to be caught on the interstate with a blowout (right, Eileen?)
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 'straight shooter,' as Justin's aunt put it. I can't 'pretend' that nothing is wrong when something is very, very wrong. I can't do it. I'm not that good of an actor. I don't pretend that I am perfect or that I don't also have my own cans of worms hidden in the far reaches of my own closets. But my worms don't affect anyone but me. They are my worms, not involving an entire family of worms.
I know that I can't fix everything, and I don't pretend to know all the answers. But I do know this: you can't fix any problem without acknowledging that there is a problem, i.e. the worms. Thank you Dr. Phil. I also know that I can't ignore the worms any longer. They have been set free...
Without going into major details, here's part of the story. I opened a major can of worms. I mean huge. And I don't know what's going to happen with it now. Hopefully, the people whose worms I just threw everywhere will realize that they have to deal with the worms to solve the problem of the worms. These worms have been eating at me for over a year and a half, causing much distress not only for me, but for everyone involved.
To me, it's kind of like when your tire starts making a slight thumping noise and shaking the car... you know the tire is going to go flat pretty soon, so you better buck up and do something about it, or you're gonna have even more car repairs to go through. You can't drive around with three tires. It doesn't work (although some of the criminals featured on the show COPS might disagree). And when your car has many, many people riding in it, that makes the fourth tire even more important. You definitely don't want to be caught on the interstate with a blowout (right, Eileen?)
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a 'straight shooter,' as Justin's aunt put it. I can't 'pretend' that nothing is wrong when something is very, very wrong. I can't do it. I'm not that good of an actor. I don't pretend that I am perfect or that I don't also have my own cans of worms hidden in the far reaches of my own closets. But my worms don't affect anyone but me. They are my worms, not involving an entire family of worms.
I know that I can't fix everything, and I don't pretend to know all the answers. But I do know this: you can't fix any problem without acknowledging that there is a problem, i.e. the worms. Thank you Dr. Phil. I also know that I can't ignore the worms any longer. They have been set free...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Sleeeeeeping... or not!
Well, my child USED to sleep for at least 10 hours at night... until, until...
I don't know what happened. Lena would go to sleep so easily, at 7pm, every single night (and she still does, for the most part), and sleep until at least 6am every single morning. From about 3 months until about 8 months. And now? Now, she still goes down pretty easily, but she wakes up between 3 and 4am, talks to herself in the crib for an hour, then begins screaming. I try to let her just cry for a little while, but my husband and I both want our sleep, and we both know that if I just go in there and rock her for a few minutes she will go back down. UGH! What to do???
I know, I know, I KNOW! Every single parenting thing that I have read (and her pediatrician) tells me to let her cry, let her cry. I try, I try, I TRY! It is so frustrating to listen to her cry for an hour, and listen to my husband complain about not sleeping for an hour (when I know he has to get up and go to his 'real job' all day). When I know that if I just go rock her for a few minutes she will go back down.
On the bright side, she did actually sleep at DayCare yesterday, only for an hour, but she did sleep. She came home and took a four hour nap, which was glorious!
I gotta go... I need a nap!
I don't know what happened. Lena would go to sleep so easily, at 7pm, every single night (and she still does, for the most part), and sleep until at least 6am every single morning. From about 3 months until about 8 months. And now? Now, she still goes down pretty easily, but she wakes up between 3 and 4am, talks to herself in the crib for an hour, then begins screaming. I try to let her just cry for a little while, but my husband and I both want our sleep, and we both know that if I just go in there and rock her for a few minutes she will go back down. UGH! What to do???
I know, I know, I KNOW! Every single parenting thing that I have read (and her pediatrician) tells me to let her cry, let her cry. I try, I try, I TRY! It is so frustrating to listen to her cry for an hour, and listen to my husband complain about not sleeping for an hour (when I know he has to get up and go to his 'real job' all day). When I know that if I just go rock her for a few minutes she will go back down.
On the bright side, she did actually sleep at DayCare yesterday, only for an hour, but she did sleep. She came home and took a four hour nap, which was glorious!
I gotta go... I need a nap!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I'm the mommy... that trumps everything.
Yesterday, I got my first call to be a substitute teacher at the local Elementary School... Yay! I put my application in to the administration building in November, so this was a long time coming. So, I got myself all showered up and looking presentable, and prepared Lena for Day Care. The one that I send her to is awesome... they provide all the formula and food, so all I needed to pack for her was a change of clothes, a blankie, and diapers and wipers. And off we went. I dropped her off and headed toward my afternoon of fourth graders.
The kids at school were great... really, they were! It was a very easy afternoon, and I was happy to have done it. I was so excited to have a couple of minutes to myself that I went ahead and ran a few errands while Lena was there.
I picked her up a little before 4, so she had been there for about 5 hours. I told the teacher that Lena had not eaten lunch yet, and that she would probably nap sometime soon. When I picked her up, I learned that not only would she not eat lunch, but she would also not take a nap. Neither one surprised me. Lately, it's all I can do to get her to eat a few bites of whatever I fix for her. She much prefers to feed herself, which is great, except that it's hard to make sweet potatoes so that a nine month old can feed them to herself. (Apparently, that is another adventure that we have yet to master.) And as for sleeping... Lena will not go to sleep for anyone without a fight, other than me. And occasionally her dad. If she knows that I am not home. If I am around, and she knows it, she absolutely will not let anyone else put her to bed. Even if I'm not around, like when she's at her grandparents', she still won't go to sleep without a fight. We are working on it.
So, the director of the Day Care was talking to me, saying that Lena had a pretty good afternoon, but that she was fussy... well, duh, she didn't have a nap. Day Care lady asked if there was some secret to getting her to take a nap... 'What's your secret?' Um, well, I'm the mommy. That's how it works. She laughed, and said 'well, yeah, I guess that trumps everything, right?'
All in all, it was a good day... got to make a little money (though by the time I pay the day care, it really won't be very much at all), got to spend a very little time to myself (running errands doesn't really count), and Lena got to meet some new friends. I hope she likes it, cause she's going back on Friday! Maybe she will nap for them then. :)
The kids at school were great... really, they were! It was a very easy afternoon, and I was happy to have done it. I was so excited to have a couple of minutes to myself that I went ahead and ran a few errands while Lena was there.
I picked her up a little before 4, so she had been there for about 5 hours. I told the teacher that Lena had not eaten lunch yet, and that she would probably nap sometime soon. When I picked her up, I learned that not only would she not eat lunch, but she would also not take a nap. Neither one surprised me. Lately, it's all I can do to get her to eat a few bites of whatever I fix for her. She much prefers to feed herself, which is great, except that it's hard to make sweet potatoes so that a nine month old can feed them to herself. (Apparently, that is another adventure that we have yet to master.) And as for sleeping... Lena will not go to sleep for anyone without a fight, other than me. And occasionally her dad. If she knows that I am not home. If I am around, and she knows it, she absolutely will not let anyone else put her to bed. Even if I'm not around, like when she's at her grandparents', she still won't go to sleep without a fight. We are working on it.
So, the director of the Day Care was talking to me, saying that Lena had a pretty good afternoon, but that she was fussy... well, duh, she didn't have a nap. Day Care lady asked if there was some secret to getting her to take a nap... 'What's your secret?' Um, well, I'm the mommy. That's how it works. She laughed, and said 'well, yeah, I guess that trumps everything, right?'
All in all, it was a good day... got to make a little money (though by the time I pay the day care, it really won't be very much at all), got to spend a very little time to myself (running errands doesn't really count), and Lena got to meet some new friends. I hope she likes it, cause she's going back on Friday! Maybe she will nap for them then. :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sickness... Ugh.
Beginning on Wednesday evening, Justin was getting sick. He went to work on Thursday, though he was not feeling well... came home from work about 5pm, went to bed, and got up only to eat and go back to bed. He was not well. Thursday night, Lena seemed to come down with the same crud... we slept in the chair all night. I should say, she slept on me in the chair all night, and I slept in 15 minute intervals, between rocking, giving her Tylenol, and trying to get her to drink more PediaLyte. Fun stuff. Friday, Justin stayed home from work (always a treat for me) because he was so sick. Stuffy nose, bad tummy troubles, and body aches all over. Lena puked on me first thing Friday morning, and had a temp of 101.9, so I called Dr. Rice, and he had a morning appointment open (score!) so I took her to see him. Dr. Rice very patiently told me that she would be fine, it was just a virus, and she just had to get over it. Music to my ears (sort of).
Friday night was more of the same with Lena (me holding her while she slept in the chair), though this time she seemed to be better. Her temp was back down and she was acting 'normal' again.
Saturday morning, Justin stayed home from work (again) because he still wasn't feeling better. A much-better Lena and I went to do our taxes, and spent the afternoon at the Dyers' house, playing with Cole's awesome cache of toys. Lena seemed to be fine. No puking or fever. So, she and I went to Logan's to have dinner with my Lamaze class buddies... so fun to see all the babies (and mommies of course). She was ravenous, and ate like a hungry little caterpillar :) As we were packing up to leave, Lena puked. In her car seat. All over herself and the seat. Gross. Double Gross. And, of course, the waitress had disappeared, so we hadn't paid the check yet. I hightailed it to the bathroom with the diaper bag (and Lena) and tried to clean her up as best I could. Changed her clothes, and stuffed the nasty ones (and blankies) in the bag, all while she was screaming her head off and threatening to puke again. Ugh. I called Justin on our way home (who by this time was feeling well enough to worry about us), told him what happened, and asked him to please start a warm bath for us when we got home. So, we got home, stripped down, and got into the tub to wash the remaining puke off our bodies. Justin helped me get her out of the tub and into her jammies. She went down without any problems, but I could tell she wasn't feeling well still. I left a full bottle of PediaLyte on the nightstand in her room.
Saturday night, I went to bed as soon as I got the car seat liner and her pukey clothes in the washer. About 9pm. Justin was on baby duty all night long (finally). After two sleepless nights (and days) I was exhausted and slept straight through till Sunday morning.
I had planned on Lena and I going to church, but since she was still napping at 11am (church starts at 10:15), I figured God wouldn't care if we stayed home to get well.
It is now Monday afternoon. Lena is napping (kind of), Justin is at work (thank God), and I am praying that I don't actually get the nastiness that they both fought all weekend.
Things I learned from this experience:
1. I really don't NEED 8 hours of sleep to function, but it makes me a much calmer, nicer person (and a better mommy)
2. Tylenol is a wonderful, wonderful thing.
3. La-Z-Boy is a genius.
4. PediaLyte is another wonderful thing.
5. Baby wipes help, but there's nothing like a warm bath to make you feel clean.
6. There has never been anyone sicker than a sick husband. Ever.
Friday night was more of the same with Lena (me holding her while she slept in the chair), though this time she seemed to be better. Her temp was back down and she was acting 'normal' again.
Saturday morning, Justin stayed home from work (again) because he still wasn't feeling better. A much-better Lena and I went to do our taxes, and spent the afternoon at the Dyers' house, playing with Cole's awesome cache of toys. Lena seemed to be fine. No puking or fever. So, she and I went to Logan's to have dinner with my Lamaze class buddies... so fun to see all the babies (and mommies of course). She was ravenous, and ate like a hungry little caterpillar :) As we were packing up to leave, Lena puked. In her car seat. All over herself and the seat. Gross. Double Gross. And, of course, the waitress had disappeared, so we hadn't paid the check yet. I hightailed it to the bathroom with the diaper bag (and Lena) and tried to clean her up as best I could. Changed her clothes, and stuffed the nasty ones (and blankies) in the bag, all while she was screaming her head off and threatening to puke again. Ugh. I called Justin on our way home (who by this time was feeling well enough to worry about us), told him what happened, and asked him to please start a warm bath for us when we got home. So, we got home, stripped down, and got into the tub to wash the remaining puke off our bodies. Justin helped me get her out of the tub and into her jammies. She went down without any problems, but I could tell she wasn't feeling well still. I left a full bottle of PediaLyte on the nightstand in her room.
Saturday night, I went to bed as soon as I got the car seat liner and her pukey clothes in the washer. About 9pm. Justin was on baby duty all night long (finally). After two sleepless nights (and days) I was exhausted and slept straight through till Sunday morning.
I had planned on Lena and I going to church, but since she was still napping at 11am (church starts at 10:15), I figured God wouldn't care if we stayed home to get well.
It is now Monday afternoon. Lena is napping (kind of), Justin is at work (thank God), and I am praying that I don't actually get the nastiness that they both fought all weekend.
Things I learned from this experience:
1. I really don't NEED 8 hours of sleep to function, but it makes me a much calmer, nicer person (and a better mommy)
2. Tylenol is a wonderful, wonderful thing.
3. La-Z-Boy is a genius.
4. PediaLyte is another wonderful thing.
5. Baby wipes help, but there's nothing like a warm bath to make you feel clean.
6. There has never been anyone sicker than a sick husband. Ever.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
A Very Tired Lena
2/23/11
So, Lena spent the night at her Grandparents' house on Saturday night, so that Justin and I could go to a birthday party (for big people). None of the three of them slept at all, apparently. When Justin and I went to pick her up on Sunday, at around 11am, we walked into the living room at Phil and Elena's... Phil was curled up in the fetal position on the couch, sleeping under a blanket. Elena was struggling to feed Lena a bottle in the chair, and Lena was happily, exhaustedly squirming like a spider monkey in Elena's arms. She had been playing on the floor; I could tell by the blanket and ball on the living room floor. When Lena saw us, she squealed in delight, grinned like crazy, and squirmed even harder, launching herself off of Elena's lap toward Justin. We were delighted that she seemed to be in a good mood, and even more delighted that she actually recognized us and wanted to be with us. Phil and Elena were delighted that we were there (finally) to get her. In the 19 hours since I had dropped her off, Lena had slept for approximately 30 minutes. Ok, so she actually slept longer than 30 minutes, but Phil and Elena made it sound like that... they are going to rest for about a month, and then maybe we can drop her off again!
Here's what a typical day's schedule is like with Lena:
7am... wake up
8am... eat breakfast
9am... nap
10am... wake up from nap
12pm... eat lunch
2pm... nap
5pm... wake up from nap and eat dinner
6:30pm... bottle and rock-a-byes
7pm... bedtime
We do deviate from this routine, based on goals for different days; i.e. sometimes she needs a bath :) but for the most part, this is how we roll. Lena usually wakes up twice in the night, to have me put the paci back in her mouth and restart her music. She immediately goes back to sleep (usually).
Judging by what Phil and Elena said, here was her schedule at their house:
5pm... dinner
6pm... bath
7pm... bottle, bedtime
10pm... awake! Let's Play!
1am... bedtime
4am... awake! Let's Play! Where's my mom?
6am... bedtime
7:30am... awake! breakfast! Where's my mom?
And apparently she did not take a nap until after we picked her up at 11.
I think my daughter needs to spend more time at Grandma and Grandpa's house!
5pm... dinner
6pm... bath
7pm... bottle, bedtime
10pm... awake! Let's Play!
1am... bedtime
4am... awake! Let's Play! Where's my mom?
6am... bedtime
7:30am... awake! breakfast! Where's my mom?
And apparently she did not take a nap until after we picked her up at 11.
I think my daughter needs to spend more time at Grandma and Grandpa's house!
On Monday, Lena took two three hour naps, and went to bed by 6:30, sleeping until 8am the next day! I think she was tired!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Baptism
August 8, 2010
We had Lena baptized at First Lutheran Church in Attica, IN. This is the same church where my mom, uncle, brother and I were all baptized, so I wanted Lena to be baptized there as well. It was a beautiful little service, and of course I cried. Lena was crying and carrying on during the beginning of the service, but when it came time for her to be 'on stage' she was just a sleeping beautiful baby!
My best friend since preschool, Shelley Crawford, was home from China (where she works) and was one of Lena's Godparents. My brother and his wife served as Godparents as well. Lena didn't mind the water on her head at all, and even smiled a little.
After the service, we had a wonderful reception at my mom's house. This served as a 'meet the baby' party, since we did not have a shower in Attica before she was born. The house was packed with people, and I had a wonderful time talking with everyone and seeing everyone! Some people I hadn't seen since way before our wedding, and it was really wonderful that they came to celebrate Lena. We had ice cream sundaes and sangria!
Lena received so many cute, great gifts at that party... it took me forever to write all the Thank-Yous!
Lena and I stayed the night at my mom's, and came home the next day to see Justin.
We had Lena baptized at First Lutheran Church in Attica, IN. This is the same church where my mom, uncle, brother and I were all baptized, so I wanted Lena to be baptized there as well. It was a beautiful little service, and of course I cried. Lena was crying and carrying on during the beginning of the service, but when it came time for her to be 'on stage' she was just a sleeping beautiful baby!
My best friend since preschool, Shelley Crawford, was home from China (where she works) and was one of Lena's Godparents. My brother and his wife served as Godparents as well. Lena didn't mind the water on her head at all, and even smiled a little.
After the service, we had a wonderful reception at my mom's house. This served as a 'meet the baby' party, since we did not have a shower in Attica before she was born. The house was packed with people, and I had a wonderful time talking with everyone and seeing everyone! Some people I hadn't seen since way before our wedding, and it was really wonderful that they came to celebrate Lena. We had ice cream sundaes and sangria!
Lena received so many cute, great gifts at that party... it took me forever to write all the Thank-Yous!
Lena and I stayed the night at my mom's, and came home the next day to see Justin.
Routine #1
By the end of the first month, we had pretty much settled into a routine...
Justin up at 5:30am for work.
Lena awake every 3 hours all day and night to eat.
Katie feeding Lena every 3 hours all day and night.
Justin home from work about 5pm, and Katie gets to take a nap! Justin would usually do at least one feeding for Lena during this time, and sometimes two. It was much appreciated.
On the weekends, Justin would take care of Lena for a few hours so that I could sleep.
It was blissful exhaustion. Blissful because we were now parents. Exhaustion because, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I likes mah sleeeeep.
On June 25th, we went over to Aunt Toka and Uncle Mark's for their Anniversary party, and to show off Lena (of course). We had a great time, but it was exhausting for all of us. It was very hot outside, and we were all ready to come home after a few hours.
The 4th of July holiday fell during this time, and unfortunately, we did not make the trip down to 'The Lake' with my family. This is a tradition in my family dating back at least 10 years... we did not want to miss it, but Lena was still so small, and still up every 3 hours, so we didn't want to take her somewhere so unfamiliar. We also didn't want to force her schedule on anyone else. So, we stayed home and went over to Aunt Toka and Uncle Mark's for a cookout and fireworks. It was fun, but I missed my family tremendously.
I took Lena down to my parents' house later in July for a couple of days, which was really nice, because my mom hadn't seen us since right after we brought her home from the hospital. We went to the Country Club pool and went swimming, which Lena didn't really appreciate a whole lot (the water was pretty cold). I missed Justin, and he missed us a LOT!
Justin up at 5:30am for work.
Lena awake every 3 hours all day and night to eat.
Katie feeding Lena every 3 hours all day and night.
Justin home from work about 5pm, and Katie gets to take a nap! Justin would usually do at least one feeding for Lena during this time, and sometimes two. It was much appreciated.
On the weekends, Justin would take care of Lena for a few hours so that I could sleep.
It was blissful exhaustion. Blissful because we were now parents. Exhaustion because, as anyone who knows me will tell you, I likes mah sleeeeep.
On June 25th, we went over to Aunt Toka and Uncle Mark's for their Anniversary party, and to show off Lena (of course). We had a great time, but it was exhausting for all of us. It was very hot outside, and we were all ready to come home after a few hours.
The 4th of July holiday fell during this time, and unfortunately, we did not make the trip down to 'The Lake' with my family. This is a tradition in my family dating back at least 10 years... we did not want to miss it, but Lena was still so small, and still up every 3 hours, so we didn't want to take her somewhere so unfamiliar. We also didn't want to force her schedule on anyone else. So, we stayed home and went over to Aunt Toka and Uncle Mark's for a cookout and fireworks. It was fun, but I missed my family tremendously.
I took Lena down to my parents' house later in July for a couple of days, which was really nice, because my mom hadn't seen us since right after we brought her home from the hospital. We went to the Country Club pool and went swimming, which Lena didn't really appreciate a whole lot (the water was pretty cold). I missed Justin, and he missed us a LOT!
And the first weeks home...
Here's what I remember about the first few weeks that Lena was home...
1. Waking up every three hours to feed her. This was a challenge for me, but more so for Justin, as he had to go back to work Monday morning. So I was the one (pretty much) who got up to feed her all night long. Every three hours, I had to wake her up and try to get her to nurse or eat from a bottle, while trying to be sure that she was eating more than she did the time before. When we first brought Lena home, we were happy if she would eat more than one ounce at a time... which was not very much!
2. Trying to get her to nurse. I put this in a separate section because it was a whole different challenge all in itself. No one tells you nursing is HARD! Lena did very well with it, actually, but she would nurse on me for 45-50 minutes total, and then still want a bottle. By the end of four weeks, she was up to about 4 ounces per feeding... she would take that much from a bottle after I nursed her! So frustrating, because this whole process took about an hour and a half, and she needed to be fed every three hours. So, after five weeks of trying to nurse, I gave up and went to formula full time. I don't feel guilty about this decision. I am a little disappointed that it didn't work out, but Lena is healthy and happy, and it only took about half an hour to feed her after that!
3. Trying to make sure she gets enough to eat. For the first couple of weeks, this was quite a challenge. All Lena wanted to do was sleep... it's very hard to get nutrition into a sleeping child. I know, we've all heard the old 'don't wake a sleeping baby' thing, but she was so very tiny that Dr. Rice was worried that she wasn't eating enough and wouldn't gain weight. This resolved itself after about two weeks, but at the beginning, it was just something else that we had to worry about.
4. Very yucky poopy diapers.
*Pure love.
*Pure joy.
I'd like to say that we didn't really do much those first few weeks, but Lena had Dr. Appts. every week until she was a month old, so she got very used to her car seat very early on.
I think the reason I don't really feel like I remember that time is what some people call the 'mommy amnesia' thing... where we don't remember the really sucky parts, because if we did, we would never have more than one child!
1. Waking up every three hours to feed her. This was a challenge for me, but more so for Justin, as he had to go back to work Monday morning. So I was the one (pretty much) who got up to feed her all night long. Every three hours, I had to wake her up and try to get her to nurse or eat from a bottle, while trying to be sure that she was eating more than she did the time before. When we first brought Lena home, we were happy if she would eat more than one ounce at a time... which was not very much!
2. Trying to get her to nurse. I put this in a separate section because it was a whole different challenge all in itself. No one tells you nursing is HARD! Lena did very well with it, actually, but she would nurse on me for 45-50 minutes total, and then still want a bottle. By the end of four weeks, she was up to about 4 ounces per feeding... she would take that much from a bottle after I nursed her! So frustrating, because this whole process took about an hour and a half, and she needed to be fed every three hours. So, after five weeks of trying to nurse, I gave up and went to formula full time. I don't feel guilty about this decision. I am a little disappointed that it didn't work out, but Lena is healthy and happy, and it only took about half an hour to feed her after that!
3. Trying to make sure she gets enough to eat. For the first couple of weeks, this was quite a challenge. All Lena wanted to do was sleep... it's very hard to get nutrition into a sleeping child. I know, we've all heard the old 'don't wake a sleeping baby' thing, but she was so very tiny that Dr. Rice was worried that she wasn't eating enough and wouldn't gain weight. This resolved itself after about two weeks, but at the beginning, it was just something else that we had to worry about.
4. Very yucky poopy diapers.
*Pure love.
*Pure joy.
I'd like to say that we didn't really do much those first few weeks, but Lena had Dr. Appts. every week until she was a month old, so she got very used to her car seat very early on.
I think the reason I don't really feel like I remember that time is what some people call the 'mommy amnesia' thing... where we don't remember the really sucky parts, because if we did, we would never have more than one child!
The first week...
Lena was born on Saturday, June 12, 2010...
I did not get to see my daughter (aside from immediately after Dr. Cavallo took her out of me) until the afternoon on Sunday, June 13th. I was going absolutely crazy, while trying to be patient, and trying to use the breast pump, in my room. The nurses were amazing. My family was amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Except that my child wasn't with me. She was in the NICU, with breathing troubles.
Finally, in the afternoon on Sunday, I got to get off my IVs and go see Lena! She had her own little room with only one tiny roommate (his name is Gabriel, and he is absolutely gorgeous!). There were so many tiny little babies in the NICU, they had to put Lena and her little boyfriend in a room that was usually reserved just for the nursing mommies to have some privacy. I finally got to hold my tiny little girl. All I could think was 'Oh My Gosh, she is so small and beautiful' I know that all parents think that initially, but of course, this was my turn to feel this way. Justin had already been down there so many times, so he let me meet the nurses and hold Lena for the entire time we were down there. I tried to get her to nurse, and she latched on a little, but she couldn't really suck very well, so it was hard.
The next six days were a total blur of tears, exhaustion, and a few unnecessary fights. Justin was wonderful... when I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, Lena was not released, so we had to go home without her. This was definitely the most difficult part of the whole process. That first time leaving the hospital was awful. I cried the whole way home. The wonderful hospital people offered to let us stay in the Ronald McDonald House, which is right there in the hospital, but we wanted to reserve that for the parents who were farther away and couldn't drive every day to see their children. So we went home. 45 minutes away. Justin drove (obviously) and I couldn't wait to go back the next day. So that we would be prepared to take her home, Justin and I spent Wednesday night in the hospital with Lena. We were in a special room just for parents of children in the NICU... Lena was on her monitors all night, and we were right across the hall from the NICU if we needed them. The night was not easy, but at least we got to spend it with Lena. The next day, we went home to shower and eat, and then came right back again to see her. I spent the night again on Thursday, just Lena and me, in a different room, but still in the hospital. This night was easier, as Lena was not on any monitors, and she slept a little better.
Lena was (finally) released on Friday, six days after her birth, to go home with us.
My mom and Justin's mom put together the nursery for us while we were in the hospital, and though I didn't want them to see our messy house, I was so grateful for the help! It was so great to concentrate on me and Lena getting better, instead of trying to get all of that stuff together too.
About an hour after we got home on Friday, June 18th, there was a really big thunderstorm, and our power went out. Justin's aunt and uncle had major damage to their house, so they called to see if Justin could come over and help them patch the roof on their house, so I was home alone with Lena, with nothing but candles to light the rooms. It was a little scary at first, but after a little while, it was kind of nice to not have any distractions. Just me and her, sitting and rocking in the chair.
The power did not come back on in our house until early the next morning. It was a very dark night, but we did just fine.
I did not get to see my daughter (aside from immediately after Dr. Cavallo took her out of me) until the afternoon on Sunday, June 13th. I was going absolutely crazy, while trying to be patient, and trying to use the breast pump, in my room. The nurses were amazing. My family was amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Except that my child wasn't with me. She was in the NICU, with breathing troubles.
Finally, in the afternoon on Sunday, I got to get off my IVs and go see Lena! She had her own little room with only one tiny roommate (his name is Gabriel, and he is absolutely gorgeous!). There were so many tiny little babies in the NICU, they had to put Lena and her little boyfriend in a room that was usually reserved just for the nursing mommies to have some privacy. I finally got to hold my tiny little girl. All I could think was 'Oh My Gosh, she is so small and beautiful' I know that all parents think that initially, but of course, this was my turn to feel this way. Justin had already been down there so many times, so he let me meet the nurses and hold Lena for the entire time we were down there. I tried to get her to nurse, and she latched on a little, but she couldn't really suck very well, so it was hard.
The next six days were a total blur of tears, exhaustion, and a few unnecessary fights. Justin was wonderful... when I was released from the hospital on Tuesday, Lena was not released, so we had to go home without her. This was definitely the most difficult part of the whole process. That first time leaving the hospital was awful. I cried the whole way home. The wonderful hospital people offered to let us stay in the Ronald McDonald House, which is right there in the hospital, but we wanted to reserve that for the parents who were farther away and couldn't drive every day to see their children. So we went home. 45 minutes away. Justin drove (obviously) and I couldn't wait to go back the next day. So that we would be prepared to take her home, Justin and I spent Wednesday night in the hospital with Lena. We were in a special room just for parents of children in the NICU... Lena was on her monitors all night, and we were right across the hall from the NICU if we needed them. The night was not easy, but at least we got to spend it with Lena. The next day, we went home to shower and eat, and then came right back again to see her. I spent the night again on Thursday, just Lena and me, in a different room, but still in the hospital. This night was easier, as Lena was not on any monitors, and she slept a little better.
Lena was (finally) released on Friday, six days after her birth, to go home with us.
My mom and Justin's mom put together the nursery for us while we were in the hospital, and though I didn't want them to see our messy house, I was so grateful for the help! It was so great to concentrate on me and Lena getting better, instead of trying to get all of that stuff together too.
About an hour after we got home on Friday, June 18th, there was a really big thunderstorm, and our power went out. Justin's aunt and uncle had major damage to their house, so they called to see if Justin could come over and help them patch the roof on their house, so I was home alone with Lena, with nothing but candles to light the rooms. It was a little scary at first, but after a little while, it was kind of nice to not have any distractions. Just me and her, sitting and rocking in the chair.
The power did not come back on in our house until early the next morning. It was a very dark night, but we did just fine.
Monday, February 21, 2011
The birth... (don't worry, no scary details)
So, I'm starting this blog so that I can better remember the things about my days with Lena that I might otherwise blur into several days. I hope that someday, Lena can read this and laugh at the things we did together.
Lena was born on June 12, 2010... Here is what I remember about that experience:
On June 11, I went in to see my OB for a regular check-up appointment. I had been experiencing some pre-eclampsia, which is when your blood pressure spikes rapidly and unexplainably during pregnancy, so my docs had been monitoring that, and had prescribed 'modified bed rest' for the remainder of my pregnancy. I, of course, had pretty much ignored that whole 'bed rest' thing, because I felt fine and saw no reason to slow down at all. So, I go in to the office, waiting patiently, but excited to be out of school for the summer and only three weeks away from my due date (July 4th). The nurse took my blood pressure, gets a funny look on her face, and asks me to wait for just a minute... she came back with a different bp cuff, and took it again, coming up with the same very high bp (I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was pretty high, even for the fat prego lady). She wrote it on the chart and said the doc would be in shortly. Usually this means at least a 15 minute wait, but within 5 minutes, there was a short knock on the door, and the doc's face peered around, followed by the rest of her. She asked me the typical questions, "how are you feeling?" and "are you getting excited?" She then asked me which hospital I was registered for the birth, followed by something that I'll never forget. The very friendly and calm (smiling all the way) doctor told me to check myself into the hospital, because I would have my baby within 24 hours, because my bp was so high, and getting higher (well, duh, after that news).
I checked myself into Memorial Hospital (right across the street from my OB's office) about 15 minutes later, following a very panicked call to my husband (who was at work, and subsequently panicked himself), and another one to my mother (who was at home, and calmly reassured me and asked me to call her back when I knew more). I was a little scared and very nervous, but not really about having the baby, more because we didn't have the nursery set up quite yet. (Word to the wise... set up the nursery at least a month in advance) I was also nervous because our house was an absolute mess (as usual) and I knew that both my mother and mother in law would be visiting very soon! I still didn't really think that I was very sick, or that this baby was going to come out soon. I really thought that they would let me calm down and go home with strict orders of bed rest. Or something.
The next 24 hours were a big blur for me... I remember talking to my husband several times on the phone, trying to get him to calm down, go home and take a shower, and bring me some damn sweats! I remember talking to my mother, who finally decided that she needed to be on her way North to get here for the birth. I remember getting hooked up to an IV in my hand, which hurt like hell because the nurse couldn't find my damn vein, and getting started on some medicine that was supposed to bring my bp back to normal-land. I remember being very, very cold and then very warm due to the medicine, and I remember the nurse turning up the medicine several times. I remember the monitors that they stuck on my belly to monitor Lena (which was very cool cause I got to see her heartbeat). At one point, someone decided that my bp wasn't coming down (like it was supposed to), but actually still rising (NOT supposed to), so my doc (a different one, but from the same practice) started trying to induce me. I won't go into those details.
My wonderful husband spent a very sleepless night with me in the hospital (thank you, Justin), waiting to see when Lena would appear.
By 10am on Saturday, the 12th, the doc decided that I was not progressing in my labor (apparently Lena liked it in there), and my bp was still rising (NOT going down), so he said we would have to do a C-section. At this point, I would like to say that I was disappointed because I wanted to have a 'regular' birth, but I was so sick that I just couldn't wait to have her out of me and to feel better. Whatever the doc wanted me to do at that point, I would have done it, just to feel better. The very good thing about all of this was that, for all the craziness going on around her, Lena was just chilling out in my belly. She was in no distress at all, which was very fortunate.
And so, Lena was born, via C-section, at about 11:30am on Saturday, June 12th. And immediately taken to the NICU. Ok, so when I say immediately, I mean within about a half an hour. My mom, Justin's mom and aunt, got to come down and see us before they took her, but that was it. I was whisked off to my intensive care room, and Lena was whisked off to hers (In different areas of the hospital). She was having trouble breathing, though everything else looked very good. We thought that she would stay in the NICU for a day or two, and then go home with us. Not so much.
For the rest of that day, almost every member of Justin's family came to see us in the hospital, which was very nice, but all I really wanted was to go see Lena and take a nap. In that order. Unfortunately, I was told that since I was still on several IVs, I was not allowed to leave my room until all the IVs were out, which would be when my bp finally came down to a sort of normal level, which would actually not be until the next day. Argh.
Justin got to take people down to see Lena, and he did take several of our visitors down there, while I tried to take a nap.
More tomorrow...
Lena was born on June 12, 2010... Here is what I remember about that experience:
On June 11, I went in to see my OB for a regular check-up appointment. I had been experiencing some pre-eclampsia, which is when your blood pressure spikes rapidly and unexplainably during pregnancy, so my docs had been monitoring that, and had prescribed 'modified bed rest' for the remainder of my pregnancy. I, of course, had pretty much ignored that whole 'bed rest' thing, because I felt fine and saw no reason to slow down at all. So, I go in to the office, waiting patiently, but excited to be out of school for the summer and only three weeks away from my due date (July 4th). The nurse took my blood pressure, gets a funny look on her face, and asks me to wait for just a minute... she came back with a different bp cuff, and took it again, coming up with the same very high bp (I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was pretty high, even for the fat prego lady). She wrote it on the chart and said the doc would be in shortly. Usually this means at least a 15 minute wait, but within 5 minutes, there was a short knock on the door, and the doc's face peered around, followed by the rest of her. She asked me the typical questions, "how are you feeling?" and "are you getting excited?" She then asked me which hospital I was registered for the birth, followed by something that I'll never forget. The very friendly and calm (smiling all the way) doctor told me to check myself into the hospital, because I would have my baby within 24 hours, because my bp was so high, and getting higher (well, duh, after that news).
I checked myself into Memorial Hospital (right across the street from my OB's office) about 15 minutes later, following a very panicked call to my husband (who was at work, and subsequently panicked himself), and another one to my mother (who was at home, and calmly reassured me and asked me to call her back when I knew more). I was a little scared and very nervous, but not really about having the baby, more because we didn't have the nursery set up quite yet. (Word to the wise... set up the nursery at least a month in advance) I was also nervous because our house was an absolute mess (as usual) and I knew that both my mother and mother in law would be visiting very soon! I still didn't really think that I was very sick, or that this baby was going to come out soon. I really thought that they would let me calm down and go home with strict orders of bed rest. Or something.
The next 24 hours were a big blur for me... I remember talking to my husband several times on the phone, trying to get him to calm down, go home and take a shower, and bring me some damn sweats! I remember talking to my mother, who finally decided that she needed to be on her way North to get here for the birth. I remember getting hooked up to an IV in my hand, which hurt like hell because the nurse couldn't find my damn vein, and getting started on some medicine that was supposed to bring my bp back to normal-land. I remember being very, very cold and then very warm due to the medicine, and I remember the nurse turning up the medicine several times. I remember the monitors that they stuck on my belly to monitor Lena (which was very cool cause I got to see her heartbeat). At one point, someone decided that my bp wasn't coming down (like it was supposed to), but actually still rising (NOT supposed to), so my doc (a different one, but from the same practice) started trying to induce me. I won't go into those details.
My wonderful husband spent a very sleepless night with me in the hospital (thank you, Justin), waiting to see when Lena would appear.
By 10am on Saturday, the 12th, the doc decided that I was not progressing in my labor (apparently Lena liked it in there), and my bp was still rising (NOT going down), so he said we would have to do a C-section. At this point, I would like to say that I was disappointed because I wanted to have a 'regular' birth, but I was so sick that I just couldn't wait to have her out of me and to feel better. Whatever the doc wanted me to do at that point, I would have done it, just to feel better. The very good thing about all of this was that, for all the craziness going on around her, Lena was just chilling out in my belly. She was in no distress at all, which was very fortunate.
And so, Lena was born, via C-section, at about 11:30am on Saturday, June 12th. And immediately taken to the NICU. Ok, so when I say immediately, I mean within about a half an hour. My mom, Justin's mom and aunt, got to come down and see us before they took her, but that was it. I was whisked off to my intensive care room, and Lena was whisked off to hers (In different areas of the hospital). She was having trouble breathing, though everything else looked very good. We thought that she would stay in the NICU for a day or two, and then go home with us. Not so much.
For the rest of that day, almost every member of Justin's family came to see us in the hospital, which was very nice, but all I really wanted was to go see Lena and take a nap. In that order. Unfortunately, I was told that since I was still on several IVs, I was not allowed to leave my room until all the IVs were out, which would be when my bp finally came down to a sort of normal level, which would actually not be until the next day. Argh.
Justin got to take people down to see Lena, and he did take several of our visitors down there, while I tried to take a nap.
More tomorrow...
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