Dec 21, 2007

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 

Today was the Christmas party at Lisa's. A couple weeks ago, the kids drew names and we bought a gift for another kid ($10 value). 

Zach and I came to the party. Most parents couldn't be there- working, obviously. One other set of parents was there with their baby (Brooklyn, whome T calls Broccoli, and who was born premature and is now 8 months old and just hit 12 pounds). 

Anyway, Lisa gathers the kids around the tree. I think she had... 6 or 7 kids today. Anyway, Teagan was already up from her nap when I got there and was eager to find out which present was hers. She was so polite about it. Asked frequently but wasn't pushy or annoying about it. So Lisa starts handing out gifts. Each kid is getting a gift from her and then their exchange gift. She's passing out gifts as she pulls them from the tree. Then Teagan has none and every kids has 2. Teagan keeps politely asking. And she has this sad and worried look on her face. And it takes EVERYTHING I have to not jump up and take over for her. She is not upset but my heart is breaking because she's not getting the same treatment.

Lisa finally finds a gift for Teagan- the one from her. Teagan gets it but won't open it. She wants "2 gifts" because she sees that every other kid has 2. So she sits and waits. And waits.

Lisa has a family member (I think it's her MIL) who helps out several days a week. Nana Troudy. She has brought gifts for the kids and there is chaos as Lisa is handing those out. Another 2 gifts for each kid. Somewhere in there, Lisa finds T's exchange gift and hands it to her.

The gift from Lisa was Dora Memory which T has.

The exchange gift was a baby doll.

And Nana Troudy left Teagan's gifts at home.

Teagan... I watched her to see if she was going to catch on... and I could tell that she knew... and she totally was understanding that the gifts were forgotten... 

My baby was so excited to help the littler kids open their gifts. And she helped her close friends (Kyle, her BFF, and Kristina who is an older girl who is developmentally delayed) with their gifts and was so excited for them. 

She was disappointed in being forgotten but was so genuinely happy for the others... it warmed my heart. I wanted to jump in and fix the unfairness but instead, I sat back and let my daughter teach my a valuable lesson in what fairness really means.

Goodbye, Ginger

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 



My Ginger is gone.

She hadn't been herself for a few days. Sometimes not eating, seeming to maybe be in pain, sometimes having trouble with her legs. 

This morning, I got up with Zach at 3. Changed him, nursed. Ginger got up- very odd for her- and came out to the living room. Her back legs seemed to give out and she kind of fell to the floor. Couldn't get up after that. Labored breathing, swollen stomach.

I took her to the hospital and the vet diagnosed a flipped stomach. Surgery was an option but there was only a 50% chance it would work and there was a risk that it could actually end up being fatal.

I called Jeff and we discussed the options... really, there was only one option...

Ginger's gone. My beautiful girl. The most gentle and patient dog I've ever known. 

I know we made the right choice. She led a good, happy, full life (she was almost 9 years old). She was in pain today. I'm so sad to have to let her go but feel so blessed that we didn't have to go through her deterioration into old age or watch her wither away with a disease. 

I had no idea what to say to Teagan when she woke up today. We sat down and I told her that Ginger's body stopped working and that we wouldn't have a Ginger anymore. I know she doesn't understand. But she was sad and said "but I need her" several times. I'm guessing she will ask about her over the next few days or so... and I am sad to think that Teagan may not have strong memories of her own of Ginger. But we have lots of pictures and will keep her memory alive that way.

Goodbye, my beautiful girl. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge...

Nov 12, 2007

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 

This baby can eat- and he is growing to prove it! We weighed him at home today- about 12 pounds and he isn't even 3 weeks old!

He is still sleeping pretty well. Generally konks out right after our dinner time. I get him to wake up with a diaper change after T is asleep and then he nurses and goes back to sleep for 3-4 hours.

I think we are on the verge of getting thrush. I see a couple of white dots in his mouth. I have some redness and pain when he nurses. So- I'm starting with home methods first. Yogurt daily- preferably 2 servings per day (need to go stock up on yogurt). Gonna start taking acidopholus. Will wash my camis in vinegar. Will sterilize his pacifiers each day (even though he rarely uses them). Try to get some sunlight on my nipples.

Zach's cord came off. So now he can really get bathed. He isn't a fan of the bath (neither was Teagan) so he had his first shower a few days ago! No tears, no whimpers. I'd say he enojyed showering with Mommy and then the dry off, cuddle time with Daddy!

He also had his first smile. It was an awake and alert smile and it sure seemed to be in reaction to his big sister talking and singing to him. 

And the diaper rash seems to be in control now. Original Desitin does the trick. That stuff smells horrible but it works!

Teagan continues to amaze me with her sister-skills.

Yesterday, Sassy got in BIG trouble because she got a little over excited playing ball. She jumped over my knee and landed on Zach. He got scared and started crying. No injuries. But Sassy wound up in "time out" for the afternoon (had to stay outside). I picked up Zach as soon as it happened and was holding him close and shushing and saying "it's okay." Teagan came over and put her arms around us, kissed him and shushed and okay'ed, too. Once he settled down and I laid him down again, she went and laid next to him and stroked his cheek and talked through the incident with him! "Did Sassy jump on you? Did that scare you? You're okay! It's okay! Sassy's in time out now. You're okay baby brother!" Talk about melting a mom's heart!!

Teagan's imagination is taking off. She is so creative! She took a blanket and wrapped it around her lower half to be a mermaid. She wore this canvas box thing on her head to be a robot. She is constantly cooking in her kitchen, having pretend phone conversations, and has recently started talking to an invisible friend- Paolo. She tells us when he is sleeping and she talks to him and about him.

Oct 23, 2007

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 


Zachary Robert 10-23-07 at 12:13 p.m. 9 lbs., 9 oz., 22.5 inches long 


We are still at the hospital- will be until tomorrow. Labor, from the time water broke to delivery, was about 16 hours.

Had a HORRIBLE epidural experience. Was still glad I had it- especially with my giant baby- but it took 7 tries to get it in (the weight of my baby has caused my spine to curve and the doc hit bone 5 times, a vein the 6th time, and got it right the 7th).

Birth was waaaaaay harder than it was with Teagan. And I found that I had less of that instant bond with him. I loved him and was thrilled and so on... but felt like I needed a bit of time to recover from the pushing experience before I could focus on him.

He's nursing like a champ! He nurses every 2-3 hours and will go 15-20 mins on a side. Latch is great- and causing huge cramping in my uterus. Which is good but really hurts like a SOB!!

Teagan came and met her brother today and it was an amazing experience for me. She is THRILLED to be a big sis!!!

Have had a great hospital experience. The nurses have been amazing. And this was funny- took this little survey through their computer system and answered one question that I had some equipemnt not working in my room (my shower SUCKED because of a crappy shower head this morning). They had a maintenance guy in my room within an hour and he replaced the shower head!!! 

We are doing well and appreciate all the well wishes!

Oct 26, 2007 - We are home!

And doing great!

I was hugely frustrated at the hospital- it took forever for them to discharge us. I was actually crying (darn hormones) because I just missed Teagan so much. Anyway, we finally got home around 3... 

Teagan was SO EXCITED to see us and to have her baby brudder home. She pronounces his name like "Zappy" so that's what I've started calling him. 

If Zach starts crying, she wants me to fix him right away- "Oh no! My baby's crying!" Then will demand that Mommy pick him up or take him from whoever is holding him. 

He slept really well last night. Nursed around 8:30 and fell asleep. I had to wak ehim to nurse at 12:30!! I had gone to bed around 9:30. He and I stayed up till about 1:30 and then back to bed. Up again at 4 and would have been back in bed but T woke up at 5. Ugh. So the 3 of us snuggled up on the couch and watched Mickey Mouse and then Little Einsteins- and Z and I snoozed a bit until 6. Everyone else was up by 7. Z and I went back to sleep until 8:30. And here we are!

So- not bad at all!! And T is just as happy with him today as she was yesterday. Jeff has to back off on his concern over T hurting Z- she goes to kiss him or stroke him and Jeff about freaks. But he'll get over it- I'll make him. 

Mom and T are about to head out to the store. Jeff has to run into work really quick. So Z and I will have some chill out time here at home together. 

He's nursing like a pro. Milk came in before we left the hospital. Dealing with engorgement and cracked nipples. But the lactation consultant checked his latch and it's a good one. My boobs just have to get used to nursing again! Lansinoh and gel pads are my "breast" friend. T loves to "put Lansinoh" on her chest, too.

I am just so happy to be home!!

Potty Trained

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 

Teagan is POTTY TRAINED!

This is really thanks to Grandma. Teagan was doing well for me and for Lisa (daycare). But it was 2 days with Grandma that produced magic. Grandma had her in underwear for the day on Thurs. A handful of accidents. But as of yesterday, we are in underwear full time- even at night! And she woke up dry for her nap and this morning and didn't even wake up to potty last night! She even took a road trip with me and Grandma to Chicago on Sat and stayed dry in her pull up there and back- and told us when she had to potty so we could stop for her.

I am so proud of my baby girl!

A little sad too... no more baby diapers. But the pride and relief certainly overtakes the sadness!

We went to Chicago on Sat to visit my grandparents. I'll have pics to post later in the week. We took Grandma and Grandpa out to lunch. Then stayed at their apartment for a bit while Teagan played on the outside porch- my grandma loved watching her blow bubbles. And Teagan had a great time playing ball with everyone in the living room. She would hand the ball to Great-Grandpa or Grandma and chase after it and throw it to me or my mom. Had dinner at my Aunt Liz and Uncle Chuck's house. Teagan loved that dinner! We had a stir fry that was made mostly with veggies from Liz and Chuck's garden- delicious!!

Baby is continuing to grow and kick. Still seems more laid back in reagrds to movement. Definitely sitting lower than Teagan ever did. Lots of aches and pains still. Yesterday, our air conditioner wouldn't keep up with the heat and blazing sun so our house was pretty warm... and I was pretty miserable. Not looking forward to August...

Sept 14, 2007

Prior to blogging, I kept a message board to keep up with friends and family through pregnancy and mommyhood.  I'm working on bringing those posts to this blog. 

Jeff has been out of town for work this week so Teagan and I have been spending a lot of quality time together. 

My favorite part of the week has been figuring out how to get a good night's sleep. T has been wakin gup a few times each night. We finally have a good plan in place. When she wakes, it is usually because she has to potty. Depening on what time she wakes, sometimes she is "awake" after pottying and sometimes she is falling asleep on the toilet. If she will easily sleep again, she goes back to her bed. Otherwise, she comes to bed with me until we have to get up to start our day. 

This morning, she woke at 5 (not bad) and we did the potty thing and headed to my bed. The thing tha tmade this morning special and different was the cuddles. She wanted to be held and she wanted her arms around my neck. We lay together, wrapped up in each other, dozing off and on, for a good half hour. 

I never fell back asleep because I wanted to memorize every single moment. Jeff is back tonight so he will be in the bed tomorrow morning. And the baby will be here in a few weeks. This was one of the last times that I had Teagan totally and completely to myself. We were completely absorbed in each other.

I know I'm going to cherish this morning for a long, long time. I bet I bring it up when I toast her at gradutation or her wedding. It was one of those moments that you can't really find words for... that you want time to freeze for so it will last even longer...

But eventually the day had to begin.