Chalk Treats

Today was a rough day for Jane. She has officially hit the "terrible twos" and mommy is reading up on how to cope with it... just not quickly enough. From hitting people and walls to yelling "NO, NO, NO!" over and over, toddlerdom has entered our home.
A bit of her curious nature emerged today. I caught her just in time as she was putting a small piece of orange chalk to Lucy's mouth, saying "You want a snack, Lucy?". Uh, no. She does not want a snack! Then Jane ran off, as she normally does now when caught in the act of naughtiness. A few minutes later she came up to me with her hands all soggy and orange, and her tongue hanging out of her mouth, all covered in orange chunks and drool.
Guess that snack wasn't so tasty after all.

Geriatric Date

My sweet sister is here helping out with life and she let us go out ALONE tonight. So, of course, first on Scott's list was to go peruse the aisles of Barnes and Noble. While Scott looked at smarty books (philosophy, etc.), I checked out the Humor section, finding some gems. One such was a compilation of blog posts from the awesome blog cakewrecks.blogspot.com. We spent some time sitting and laughing at those poor cake decorators.

Then we went to Walgreen's and browsed a bit, then bought some stool softener (I just had a baby, thank you very much). On a whim we both decided to get some shoe insoles. And then, as a treat for Jane, some Fiber Gummies. Toddler constipation is nobodies friend.

When we got home, we both ripped open our shoe insoles and tried them out with glee. Afterward, as I was walking up the stairs I reflected on our excursion.

Wait a minute...we just had an old people date! Book browsing, stool softener, and shoe insoles!!!

We are lame. Yet, we are happy.

A Baby Story

So, I think I owe a baby story. Here it is...

I was due January 10th. Two weeks before January 6th, my doctor had told me that he thought I'd go before Christmas. He was almost positive. That day I went to the store, for the last time, and packed and was all ready to go. A blizzard came that was supposed to push me into labor because of the low pressure system. Nothing.

January 6th I had a doctor's appointment at 11am to check my status. My doctor was out of town so a nurse practitioner checked me out. I was at 3 cm (had been for two weeks) and 50% (had been for two weeks). My belly had also been measuring a little small, but I had been small with Jane too so my doctor wasn't worried. The nurse practitioner was worried, so she did an ultrasound to check the fluid level, which she said was borderline low, and then hooked me up to monitors to check out our heartbeats and any contractions. Based on all of this, they decided I needed to be induced right away. So, at 39 weeks and 3 days, I was sent upstairs to deliver.

Scott followed me with Jane up to Labor and Delivery while I wrote out a list of everything I hadn't packed yet. Then he went home to pack for me and Jane while I was set up in the room.

I was dressed (or rather undressed) and in the bed by 12 pm. They checked me and since being down at the doctor's, I had progressed to 4 cm. At 12:30 pm the doctor on call broke my water. Scott showed back up around 1 pm after labor had begun. I'm pretty sure they also gave me a dose of pitocin at some point...

By 1:30pm my labor was regular, about every 3 minutes and I was at 5 cm. I then got an epidural. That was the worst part. It was a relief, but quite painful getting it in. It took a few pokes or numbing relief before they could get the epidural in. Then, I could still feel pain with every contraction in one spot for a while until they readjusted the catheter.

By 3:30 pm I was at 10 cm and ready to push. This epidural was different than the one I had with Jane because I could feel pressure and the urge to push. It was really helpful and made delivery much easier.

I pushed for 20 minutes and then we had a baby! She came at 4:08 pm. Her eyes were wide open as soon as her head popped out. She got 9's on her Apgar and was healthy kiddo.

I tore just a tiny bit, needing only 1 stitch (thank goodness for tiny babies!). Lucy was 5 lbs 14 ounces and 19 1/4" long (same length as Jane, but 1 lb lighter). Scott was 10 lbs 2 ounces, so I am sooooo glad that hasn't happen here! Lucy dropped to 5 lbs 6.5 ounces when we left the hospital and today she was back up to 5 lbs 14 ounces! She is gaining so well, we are very proud!

We are so grateful for how well the pregnancy, labor and delivery went and to be blessed with another beautiful and healthy little girl.

Jane is adjusting okay. She loves her sister and is always looking for her and making sure she has her binky at all times. My sister Sarah is here helping out and has been taking good care of us. It's a good thing she has a good sense of humor because Jane has thrown fits like crazy while being taken care of by Sarah ("go way, Sarah!", etc.). We are trying to make sure Jane gets enough attention, but it is sure hard when the other kid has to be

attached to you (literally) a LOT.

Anyway, we are all doing well and sleeping when possible. We are grateful for all the love and support our friends have given us since we are so far from family.

Lucy

We've been busy over here

And tired.


1.6.10, 4:08pm, 5lbs 14oz., 19 1/4"

TRAPPED

I think we may have slightly traumatized Jane with all our Santa talk. She was too scared to sleep last night and cried for at least 2 hours. She kept saying she didn't want him to come in her room. I think he may have redeemed himself this morning with her awesome toy haul.
We have been having a blizzard since yesterday but still thought it would be a good idea to try to visit some friends tonight for a yummy dinner. BAD IDEA.
About 2 blocks from our door we got stuck in a huge pile of drifted snow. Luckily (said sarcastically) we brought a frying pan (we don't own a shovel...so innocent) to help scoop us out. Scott got our of the car while I rolled the car back and forth about 4 inches for like 10 minutes. Then, like a Christmas miracle, 3 guys came out of a house with a shovel and dug us out for 10 minutes. The whole time Jane was saying, "This is supid, mommy", while I'm hoping she is not really saying what I think she is saying. Yep, she was saying "stupid" and she learned it from us. Lesson learned.
Anyway, she was so worried about the car not working and "Where's daddy?!". 20 minutes and 2 blocks later, we were back home having our own little Christmas party.
Nebraska is awesome (said sarcastically).
Merry Christmas!

P.S. Keep your fingers crossed that this baby doesn't come until the plows get to work.

Merry Christmas!

From Christmas Card 2009

Only Adults Wear Watches

I guess I'm an adult then. Or I was.
Jane took my watch a few days ago trying to make me get up from a nap and play with her. I should have, but laziness won. And that means I lost. I lost my watch. Toddlers.
Then, last night, on a last minute run to Target to get some ink so I could make my Young Women's handouts, I decided to treat myself to a new necklace. While analyzing all the options, a couple of kids (by kids I mean teenagers...guess that makes me old) walked by talking about watches and how lame they are. One of them said, "Ha ha ha, only adults wear watches, ha ha ha." What does that mean? Since when is it lame to be aware of the time? I've actually had the same watch for about 18 years (yeah, that's pretty lame), which means I was wearing one when I was in middle school. Was I even nerdier than I thought I was?
So, I guess I should thank Jane for making me cool again. Or maybe now I just look like an old lady trying too hard to look cool. I just can't win.

First Barf - Warning...GRAPHIC

This morning Jane was having her usual milk and watching a movie while we were "working on getting up" (don't judge, we are slow morning people). After a little while, she runs into our room saying, "mommy, my wet!" and "my milk spild". I notice she really was soaking wet down her front and saw white stuff in her nose and down her chin. Innocently, I was thinking her diaper had maybe sprung a leak that had somehow traveled up her chest...I know, so innocent.

Now, let me just explain. Jane has NEVER thrown up. She takes after her daddy who last threw up when he was 8 or so, besides one exception, he did it again ONCE while on chemo. I've thrown up more this year than he has his whole life! So, we are so proud of our Iron Stomach Jane.

I followed her out to the front room where I found a crime scene. It still only looked like her milk had spilled all over the carpet. I didn't even notice a stink. I started to clean it up, and Jane happily got me some towels, acting like her usual chipper self. After a while I started to notice that the "milk" was a little bit thick with some tiny chunks. Huh, that's odd...

Then I went to change her and then scrubbed the carpet some more. This is when I started to suspect something suspicious. This milk stinks...like...barf!!!

Regular me could probably handle the smell better, but pregnant me...not so fun. (No, I did not barf in response, as I'm sure a few of you are hoping so that this story gets more interesting.)

Then we went back to normalness. I gave Jane some water hoping she'd feel better soon. I came over to the computer to type up this inspiring story to share with you all. Jane wanted me to read her some books, so I paused at about line 2 of this tale and sat her on my lap for story time. We read The Twelve Days of Christmas (which I like to sing instead of read, and Jane likes me to read instead of sing) and then she ran to get another book. As soon as she brought the book over to me and sat on my lap (at the computer desk) up came the chunky milk! I didn't know what else to do but pull her back from the computer (save the expensive stuff first!) and put out my normal-sized hand to capture all the projectile fun. I just know realized that my shirt smells lovely...It was yucky, but she handled it like a champ! Out came about 3 hand fulls (which obviously did not all fit into my 1). I was able to hold the chunks and we wedged out of the cramped computer area and started to run to the bathroom. She barfed once again on the way (which I just realized I didn't clean, ew) and then I grabbed a little plastic basket from her play kitchen which came in handy 2 times while getting to the bathroom. Then I got her to stand by the toilet and get some in there. I have to now admit that I am so proud of her. She didn't cry, she immediately wanted to play. And during the "act" she was stoic and even aimed at whatever I told her to without objection. Good girl.

So, while I wrote this she was hosing off in the shower with daddy. I'm not sure what I can do to capture more before it hits upholstery or carpet. By the way, any hints on how to clean it out of the aforementioned?

(P.S. I stand corrected, she did throw up once while Scott was holding her, but it was just a little and Scott handled it all alone. Then she slept like usual.)

(P.P.S. This post is an obvious example of first time parent's issues/bragging. I'm sure you won't have to hear about girlie number 2's barfing experiences.)