May 2007

May 01

A beach day with no documentation

HUGE SIGH.... we had a blast at the beach this morning.  I took a ton of pics and when I came home to download them...the card corrupted... and now it won't format (which would have erased all the pics anyway...  I'm so bummed.  So we have to get another card.  You may have noticed I haven't updated any video or pics lately...well our computers haven't been talking to each other properly, so Jerry fixed that last night.  I was waiting to download a bunch of pics until that was fixed and now... SIGH... I should've gone on and downloaded them.  How frustrating!
ANYWAY, we had so much fun this morning.  Elijah and some of his friends played in the sand and in the water.  I actually went all the way in.  The water temp is 67 but the air was so warm!  On our way home Elijah fell asleep and then slept for about an hour once we got home.  Then woke up to eat and hasn't gone back to sleep.  Sigh... I made him sit quietly with me for about an hour so he at least got some rest...
Okay, I just wanted to vent about the stupid camera...
May 07

Work Work Work

YAWN!!!!  What a busy weekend!  On Saturday I hosted play date from 10 til 12, then I worked all afternoon...  On Sunday we went out for breakfast and then Jerry and Elijah went to see Jerry's folks and I worked until 4 and then went out with the ladies!  That was very fun.  The working was fun too, but it was a lot...  Have I mentioned that I have this new project?  I was commissioned to tie-dye a huge amount of kids clothing to be sold in Carmen's store (FYI by the end of the month her store will be on-line as well....she is also going to have virtual birthing classes...I think it's pretty cool....) So I spent Saturday evening rubber banding everything and Sunday dying.  This afternoon (and probably evening) I will spend rinsing everything.  So I am tired and dyed a bit...  but my test projects turned out pretty well I must say.  I'll put some pics at the bottom of this post.
The rest of last week was pretty uneventful.  Jerry watched the republican candidates debate and was disgusted at many things they did or didn't say.  He got really fired up when three people raised their hands and said they didn't believe in evolution.  Anyway, he blogged about it...  he's so funny about his politics.
Oh yeah, so on Saturday Jerry took Elijah out to the store with him.  he was going to go to just the grocery store and maybe the library, but I got a call from him while he was in Target.  This is the conversation:
"Umm, hi we're in Target."
"Okay."
"Ummm, so Elijah found something he wants..."
"Oh he did did he?"
"So....is it okay if he gets it?"
"What is it?"
"It's a surprise."
"Is it for mother's day?"
"no."
"Is it for the whole family?"
"no."
"It's just for Elijah?"
"yes."
"Is it expensive?"
"I don't think so...."
"okay."
So they get home and Jerry brings this thing in behind his back and says this is Elijah's.  It's a ride on scooter thing from Radio Flyer.  Super cute.  But get this... the reason he bought it was because there  is a picture on the side of the box that looks JUST like elijah (if he had a hair cut...)  Anyway, Elijah loves it.  He still hasn't figured out how to make it go forward, but he's really good at going backward...it really funny!
So that's that....
Oh and Elijah's word for the week is uh-oh....Everything gets an uh-oh...

May 11

one more week!

We leave on vacation in one week BABY!!!!  I'm excited to have my hubby for a week...  We leave for Edisto Island in one week.  I'm excited to just get away.  My folks will be there on Sunday, but they are staying in a different area of the resort.  It'll be nice to have a babysitter if we should need one!  My mom's so funny...she doesn't want to intrude on our vacation and promises not to bother us...we don't mind mom!!!  I'm just looking forward to doing nothing!  I do think we are going to try to go up to Charleston for a day...but if it's too hot, we may revisit that idea.
So last night, we hear Elijah cry out...when this happens we wait for a minute to see if he's really awake and then just check on him to make sure he's not up doing stuff he's not supposed to...ANYWAY, jerry goes in and comes back and asks for the camera.  I go in and there's Elijah with his head on the floor and his body on his bed totally asleep (see the photo album for the pic...) we of course fixed him so he was back on his bed...  but what a cutie and funny little boy!
Rachel just called so we are going to the library and the store with her and MR...  HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
PS check out the sweet potato production page for the tie dyes...i turned them into Carmen Wednesday...Actually I think that I might add an album here....
May 15

Is it vacation time yet?

sigh...this week seems to be dragging!  Yesterday we walked the loop and then had lunch with Rachel and MR.  Today I went and dropped off some reversible sunhats and a few slings at Carmen's.  Her site should be up by the end of the month!!!  I also did some yard work this morning.  Have I mentioned that our dryer is about to kick the bucket?  It's been squeaky for a while, but it has gotten unbearable lately.  We don't run the dryer unless we are home...so it's really annoying and REALLY loud.  So we are now hanging all our clothes out to dry.  We really want a good energy star dryer....but they are REALLY expensive.  So for now, this will work.  I think the dryer just needs a new belt, but I have no idea how to fix a dryer...sigh... the biggest thing is the diapers.  Not usually a big deal, but since we are going on vacation it's kinda hard.  So we are using disposables now and getting all the diapers (and the pail which is how we will transport the diapers in)clean to be able to pack in the car...sigh...I would have preferred to use disposables on the trip, but we'll have a washer and dryer in the condo, so why not?
So we took care of MR on Saturday while Rachel and Erin went kayaking (with kayaks I found for them, thank you very much...)   We took the kids strawberry picking.  It was really fun.  Elijah would take the bucket and move it out of MR's reach and then she would crawl after it and right as she got there, he would pick it up and move it again.  We came back here and I pumped up the pool.  While I was doing that I had MR sitting on the ground and she was just talking away and Elijah was just running around.  later when I was getting them our of the pool, I look at MR's legs and she had fire ant bites all over them!!!  She never cried, but they looked horrible and I felt SOOOO bad!!!  Poor kid.  But she never got upset and they look soooo much better...but this is the first time we took care of her and that happens...sigh... Of course, Rachel and Erin weren't even a little upset, I wouldn't be either as those stupid little ants are everywhere...but still....  Needless to say I treated the whole yard Saturday afternoon.
We picked the first blueberry off of the bush this weekend and I pulled the last three carrots and picked some peas.  I'm excited!  I think that our garden is going to be better than last year!  Everything looks really good.  I need to get out and hoe in between the rows before we leave.
That's it I guess...
May 16

yeah...

So I was just reading Claire's blog and she was talking about things she loves.  She mentioned that Planet Earth Series...I really keep meaning to watch it, but forget until it's over and then I'm all annoyed...sigh... ANYWAY, she was talking about the cool underwater creatures that were shown on one.  That made me remember the pics someone sent me after the tsunami hit a couple years back.  They are of all these really cool (and sometimes creepy) creatures that washed up on shore.  I'm going to post them in just a minute, because they really are interesting.
Is anyone else watching Notes From The Underbelly?  I'm totally addicted to the show.  It's just funny to see how some people view pregnancy.  I guess it's different for each person.  I know a whole bunch of pregnant women right now and each one of them is handling their pregnancies differently.  It's really cool.
Hmmm....I'm watching a show called My Kid's A... And there are a bunch of kids that have all these different lives...One is joining the Cirque Du Soleil, One is a 12 year old preacher, and one is a transgender kid...  It' quite interesting.  The transgender (I think...I came in in the middle) was a girl and wants to be (or rather is) a boy.  The mom is trying to find a doctor who will remove his breasts...hmmmm... very interesting... random thought....
So today I finished washing the clothes and drying them outside.  I also hoed the veggie garden and the side garden, so they are weed free-ish..I'm pretty beat now, but it's good.  It's supposed to rain tomorrow so I will pack everything and get the house cleaned up.  we aren't leaving until after lunch on Friday since we can't check in until 4.  We were going to go through Myrtle Beach, but it's bike week there...so not so much for us...
Okay, this has been a really random blog....I'm going to post pics.
May 17

okay...so maybe I was wrong...

Maybe we just don't have bunnies around here...though I find that hard to believe... ANYWAY, I just did some research on the marigold theory...Apparently it doesn't work for many, in fact some of the bunnies were actually eating the marigolds!  So many suggested blood meal which you can buy at the garden center.  Since we haven't had any trouble with the rabbits, I'm not doing anything else.  I've also heard that if you pee or spread hair around it will keep them and deer away.  I lost so much hair after EJ was born that I spread it around last year, no problems with the deer or bunnies... who knows...
I'm packed, Elijah is packed, his toys are packed....now all that's left is Jerry and the food and then we'll be ready to go!!!  I am a little nervous about the insane price of gas, but as this is probably the only place we're going this summer, I'm not that concerned.  We plan on renting bikes once we get down there, so that takes care of the gas issue once we're there.  We may go up to Charleston for one day...we'll see...
Okay, I'm going to post a video and some more pics of the kid.  Also I'm posting pics on the Sweet Potato Productions page...so check out the new stuff!
This is probably it until we get back so have a nice week!!!!
May 25

home again home again...

So we're back...got back around 4 actually.  It's depressing to come home and realize you live in an ugly place...Edisto is covered with live oaks and palm trees... it's just so pretty...oh well... we could sell our house and live in a  tent...
So our vacation... well, we got there last Friday and jerry woke up sick on Saturday and was sick for the majority of the vacation, so that sucked.  My parents got there on Sunday afternoon, that was nice.  If Jerry had felt better, I think they would have been asked to babysit.  Elijah's long term memory is becoming more apparent.  He gets excited to see my folks instead of looking at them like strangers.  He is willing to go off with them and be okay with the whole thing.  Quite nice...  I rented a bike with a baby seat while we were there and on the arm days it was fab-o.  Elijah and I went to the pool and played and walked to the beach to play in the sand.  If we had such nice bike lanes here, I would consider getting a bike, but as it is you really risk your life getting on a bike.  Jerry didn't rent a bike, so once he was feeling better, it was sorta silly to ride a bike and drive a car.  There's a great park on the island and Elijah really liked that.  He slept well at naps and at night, as did I!!!  However, he got Jerry's sickies and now has a cough that is not pretty.  If he's not feeling better by Tuesday, we'll go to the doc.  We went out to the ACE basin and walked around the plantation there on Thursday.  I got eaten by bugs there, but it was really nice.  The last half of the week it was a bit cooler so we didn't go to the beach as much.  I just felt so bad for Jerry.  He's worked so hard and he was sick on his vacation, which in turn meant I wasn't really on vacation since I was on mommy duty 24 hours a day...but we were in a beautiful place and we didn't have to worry about work and hours and stuff like that...soooo...
Anyway, we are back and our house is still standing and our garden looks good...so life is good.   Now to catch up with everyone else...
May 28

back to the grindstone

Well, not really...but yesterday I did work my little tail off.  In the morning I broke out the weedwacker and cleared out around the house, then jumped into the ditch...I got about 3/4 of the way down the side ditch and the weedwacker just stopped working.  It's electric so I thought maybe I had tripped a switch or maybe over heated the motor...but apparently not. It just doesn't work.  Since his was a gift and we have no proof of purchase, we are out of luck... Oh well, we realized we needed something that can have attachments and maybe a bit more power.  This one definitely did it's job and worked great...so, once that broke, it was lunch time and after Elijah (and I) had a nap, I hung a rack in the pantry...makes it look so much better!!! and then fertilized the garden with liquid worm poop!!!  Thought that was funny, but we found it for the lawn a bit ago and now we have it for the garden.  It's really cool stuff and they have a program for recycling used soda bottles...The company seems really environmental and we like to support companies like TerraCycle.  It's awesome...check 'em out!!
Anyway, it was a good day.  Today Elijah and I went over to Rachel's grandmother's pool and played for a bit then picked up some lunch.  It was good to see her again.  Jerry's friend, Eric, came down to visit for the day, so that was good for them to catch up.  Tomorrow we'll go to story time at the library and then I want to check out this bookstore in town.  I also want to try my hand at a Memory Quilt so I need to find some fabric crayons at AC Moore... I hope these work out.  I am hoping to have a website up before homecoming in October, though I think/hope that it will happen sooner.  I just purchased another bolt of fabric from JoAnne's, so we'll see...
I'm waiting for a video to process to add to the site and then I am going to just chill with my hubby for the evening.  I'm sad that he has to go back to work, though he worked on Saturday... but at least it's a four day week.
Hope you had a good long weekend where you are!
May 31

little known facts

or maybe they are widely known...who knows...
1. i don't make friends easily.  i tend to not always be myself and then the whole thing blows up in my face when my true colors come through.
2. i often feel that i don't belong and that i am somehow in a temporary state.... i constantly hope that this feeling will eventually end.
3. i worry that my children will have some of my same issues.
4. i do worry about what people think of me and secretly get my feelings hurt quite often...but i don't let it show...
5. i think that the whole "organic" movement is overrated and that you are really just paying a higher price for the same food...wash your food people!  i know that there are those that judge me for not eating organic and for once, i really don't care...
6. i do believe in buying in local and think that it's great that there are farmer's markets in which this is possible.
7. i think the best way to go is to have your own garden...but i know that's not always possible either.
8. my husband is my absolute best friend...he kicks butt!!!!
9. i secretly think that the country is doomed if we don't find someone who can actually make a difference...
10. i miss my college friends (and my two high school friends i still talk too) so bad that it hurts.  i wish we all lived really close...
11. i sometimes feel i lead a rather lonely existence...i am scared that my children will feel this way too...
12. i get annoyed with people who claim to be open-minded, but refuse to look at the other side of things... (another reason why i love my hubby!!!!  he keeps me in check...)
13. i don't feel like a martyr because i went through natural childbirth...my labors were only 5 and 6 hours...who knows what i would have done had it gone on longer.
14. i sometimes don't think my heart can hold all the love i have for jerry and elijah and grace... i honestly don't know what i would do if anything ever happened to them...
15. i realized today that i don't want to live in this town much longer... i would be only a little sad to leave, but i think i would be happier elsewhere...
16. i haven't attended church in quite a while... i have tried a couple down here and none of them have felt like it could be home.  i miss having the feeling of acceptance i once had... it makes me lonely and a little sad.
17. i miss acting...a lot...but i love my kids...but i still miss the stage...
18. i haven't felt like i was a part of something great for a long time (besides my marriage and being a mom...)
19. i call my folks just to hear their voices sometimes... i miss living close to them...
20. i often feel guilty about things i have no control over...i don't know why and i don't know where this comes from...
21. i often over react to small things and think they are much worse than they really are...
22. when i over react to these things, i tend to realize that i need to change direction in life.
23. i believe that life is too short to not be silly...
24. i love to skip.
25. chocolate is the one thing i can not seem to give up.... why can't brussel sprout be bad for you...those i would have no problem giving up...
26. i have missed three weddings of college friends and i regret missing each and every one...
27. i wish i would win the lottery...but i don't play it...
28. i wish i had the means to travel all over the world...
29. i wish i had joined the peace corp directly after UNCW...
i have had a crappy morning... i don't want to get into it...but it has sucked!  i've been rather tearful writing this and my adorable little boy has been coming over giving me hugs...what a sweetie...
i just needed to write...

April 2007

April 04

Getting ready

Stupid weather... I thought spring had sprung now it's supposed to get rather cold.  Sigh...  depending on which weather channel you look at it may or may not freeze this weekend.  So our poor tomatoes and peppers may perish.  I think I might cover them...it depends on how annoying it will be to do that.  Rachel's going to come over and check the mail and stuff.  I think we are going to get a timer for the garden.  Sigh...
It's not going to be any warmer in the mountains either.  We just bought Elijah's summer wardrobe, so I'm going to have to dig out his winter stuff and hope there's something in there that's Easter like...
However, today is really nice.  I have cleaned the kitchen up and I need to start packing.  But that's it really.  Tomorrow I'll keep Elijah in disposables all day so that I can wash and pack all the diapers we'll need.  Everything else is ready to pack  I guess.
Elijah's sleeping right now.  He's doing really well as nap.  He goes down fairly easily and stays in his bed for an hour, gets up and walks to the door, I go get him and rock him back to sleep and put him back down for another hour.
We were putting him to bed at night awake, and that worked for a bit, but lately it's not.  I don't know what's going on.  He screams and cries and works himself up into a sweat.  So we end up rocking him to sleep and it takes soooo much longer.  So instead of getting him to sleep by 7:30-8 it's becoming much later...the problem is he doesn't sleep any later...  So we've gone back to just rocking him to sleep ad putting him down... it's just easier on everyone.  opps he's up....gotta run
April 08

Happy Bunny Day

Soooo...
We got here safe and sound on Friday.  It was cold then, but on Saturday morning we woke up to about a half inch of snow on the ground.  While this is nothing compared to Tracey's snow...sigh...I was not expecting this... oh well, it was fun. Elijah was introduced to snow and that was amusing.  We knew it was going to be cold, so we packed well enough.  When the friends and family arrived we just made it work inside instead of having the planned picnic. I think all in all we had about 20 adults and 6 kids inside.  It worked out well.  Elijah was overwhelmed and ended up taking a 2 hour nap in a room by himself.
This morning Jerry left and I am very sad about the whole thing.  But we'll see him again soon.  He landed in Boston just fine.  His hotel is apparently really nice...always a good thing.  He hired a car to take him to the hotel from the airport and he said that was good because there were no markings on the road and he would still be driving around...  The company where is training provides transit to and from the hotel during the week and the hotel has a bar and restaurant in it.  After saying bye to Jerry this morning we got ready and went to church.  I knew that Elijah wouldn't sit still through the service, so I decided to risk it and send him to the nursery...WHATEVER!   The nursery workers were AWESOME, but he still freaked out and I forgot to leave the diaper bag, so I was going to go back and sneak it in, but he was standing at he outside door pressed up against it screaming...I had already had enough almost tears this morning with Jerry leaving, I just couldn't do it, so I went and hung out in the nursery with Elijah during the service.  It was fine.  It took a bit to calm him down and even then he kept coming over to check in with me.  I think I will start attending a church at home that has a pager system.  Eventually he'll be fine, but so many people had already come up to him to see him and stuff that I think it was just a really overwhelming day.  My dad is giving me a hard time about it, but whatever.  I feel that the bonds of trust are built at a really early age and I want my kid to trust me .  It doesn't bother me at all.  He's been a cuddly baby since day one.  I also don't think he'll do this forever...
Rachel and I have been talking about giving each other a moms morning out sorta thing (I need it just to clean my house) for each other.  I think this is a grand idea!  So hopefully, we can start doing that soon.
This week is going to be packed with stuff to do.  I really wish we could find a way to move back here...even with the snow on FREAKING Easter.  Hopefully with all the stuff to do the week will go by quicker.
Okay, it's only 8, but I am rather tired, so I'm off to go read and lie down...maybe call Jerry one more time...
Happy Bunny Day!
April 12

Almost on the way home

This week has gone by rather quickly.  Part of me is sad to go, but the other part has missed my hubby terribly.  Elijah has really warmed up to my folks and I feel bad that I am taking him away from them.  But we'll see them in a month at the beach on vacation (yes we are one of those weird people that live at the beach and go to a different one for vacation...)
Today we hiked into town (about 2 miles) and met some of mom's friends for coffee and smoothies.  Then dad brought us home (2 miles with 26 pounds on my back in the mountains...not so much doing another 2 miles...) We treated ourselves to My Father's Pizza for lunch.  Took a nap and then mom and dad took Elijah to the park while I got my hair chopped off.  We came home and ate dinner and now I really need to finish the packing, but since we probably won't leave until Jerry's plane takes off tomorrow, I feel like I have some time.  We are going to hike down to a restaurant for breakfast in the morning (only 1 mile...but we have to walk back up...sigh) and then mom will do Meals on Wheels...so I figure I'll pack the car then.  I want Elijah to get some playtime in so he's tired and will sleep on the way to the airport.  After I pick Jerry up in Charlotte we'll head home...
I still can't believe it snowed.  I'll post pics when we get home... it was wild.
I am adding a video of Elijah playing in the creek with my folks this morning.  He went down there with them while I was showering and then I went down to meet them after.  It's really cute...he's so serious about the rock throwing...
Alright, I'm off to call Jerry...
April 17

just a quick post

We got back home safe and sound fairly late Friday night.  We didn't leave the house on Saturday except to go out for breakfast.  We did stuff around the house and on Sunday we met Rachel, Erin and MR at the Mellow Mushroom for dinner.  It was a good weekend.
Elijah has a cold.  I think it was from the cold to the not as cold weather and traveling for such a long trip cooped up in a car... Now I seem to have gotten something.  I think it's just exhaustion...but such is life.
I'm going to post some pics and eventually a new video.  I finally downloaded the pics from our trip...so those will get posted.
Okay...that's all for now.
April 20

The big 3-1

That's right they say it's my birthday....
So far it's been a pretty good one.  It was supposed to be all overcast and chilly today, but it's sunny and near 70!!!  Wahoo!!!  This morning I went to the fabric store and they were having a HUGE sale, so I got the stuff I needed to make some more slings and hats.  Then Rachel called and we talked for a bit...Then Jerry took me to Red Robin for lunch... YUMMY!!!!
I don't know what's planned for the rest of the day, but I'm sure it will be good.
Yesterday we went to Fit For Fun.  It's a little like gymboree ( i guess, I've never really been inside of one before...) but it was only 3.50 for the kid and free for me.  Elijah LOVED it!  It's really well run.  There is an arts area, a table toy area, and they provide snack.  The main room is filled with all kinds of toys to push and ride and climb on.  Then there is an outside playground that was really awesome too!
Later yesterday evening I went and prepared 11 meals at Pass Your Plate.  It's a place where you go and make your meals and then bring them home to freeze and cook later.  I got all 11 made in about an hour and a half.  It was a nice little break.  I had the store to myself (of course the workers were there...but that's it.)  We've already had 2 of the meals and they were YUMMY!!!  It's so nice to not have to worry about what we're eating for the next month-ish.
Yesterday I was chasing Elijah and slipped on our floors and fell  pretty hard.  My ankle twisted and this morning I woke up all sore and stuff...sigh...31..gettin' old I guess... Just kidding, though it was annoying.  Oh well...
Okay, that's it I guess.   Life is good...and the weather is really warming up!!!!  Even better!  So Happy My Birthday!!!!
April 24

Tuesday...

We had a great weekend.  This weather is FAB-O!!!!  We went to swim on Saturday where Elijah did a great job.  He went under water twice and did really well.  But he walks under the water in the shower on his own, so I wasn't too surprised.  Sunday we worked in the yard almost all day.   When we weren't in the yard, I worked on a design for a new hat to sell.  It's a reversible hat that has a tie.  I think I have it figured out and am excited to work on them.  They are actually fairly easy now that I have it all figured out.  I also have my mom's sewing machine which is SOOO much better than the 1940s machine I was working on.  (Thanks mom!!!)  I also am starting a new line of things....I'll keep you posted once I get all the materials and start on this endeavor.
Yesterday we hung out with Rachel and MR.  That was really nice.  I felt like I hadn't really seen Rachel in a while (one on one) so we had a good catch up yesterday.  Today we went to story time.  I'm sad that it's the last one until the summer cycle...by then Elijah will be old enough to go to Toddler Time...my big boy...
Speaking of big boy... Elijah can now have a bowl of food in front of him and he can scoop up the food and feed himself!  We don't put a lot of food in the bowl at a time, but it's a big step.  So between the possibility of beginning the potty training and the self feeding, my boy's growing up...sniff sniff...
ANYWAY, after story time we went to Carmen's to check out how things are going in the store.  Talked about the new stuff and then headed home.  This afternoon we went to a neighbor's house and showed her some fabric for a sling.  So business is at least good enough to break even...that's what's important.  Did I mention that I bought a whole bolt of fabric the other day?  I had this 50% of ONE item, so I found a full bolt of fabric I liked and bought the whole thing.  I think this may be the way I go from now on.  That way I'll have enough to make a bunch of slings and if someone wants that fabric then I'll have it.   Eventually we want to start an on-line business.
So I'm off to finish watching American Idol and work on some hats.
April 27

Thinning out

We had Elijah's 15 month check up today.  He weighs 25 pounds and is 32 inches tall.  I can't remember the head stuff.  But the head and height are in the 75% and the weight is in the 50%.  He's averaging out!  The doc gave him a clean bill of health and says he's doing great.  We don't go back until he's 2 now.  Elijah did well with his shots.  These are his last until he's 5...unless we change our mind about the chicken pox vaccine.  We decided against it and the doc was very cool about it all.  If we decide on public school he has to have it before entering, but as it's not close to 100% effective and very rarely really harmful...we'll see.  I know that as kids get older chicken pox gets worse...so again we'll see.  Anyway, the doc was pleased and we were too.  We had a sort lazy day after that.  He got really cranky around lunch time and wouldn't eat his pasta, but ate some oatmeal...go figure...  Then he slept for a nice long nap.  He's back to his old self now and that's good....the whiny baby can annoy me...
We have our last swim lesson tomorrow and then I really have to get sewing this weekend.  It's just so hard to make myself do when it's so freaking nice out...  Maybe I can get my butt in gear and do a bunch tonight...we'll see.
Have a great weekend!!!
April 30

Weather and politics

This weather is great, but it also makes me wonder how freaking hot it's going to be this summer.  I'm not looking forward to a summer of extreme heat.  Tomorrow it is supposed to be close to 90!!!  So we are hitting the beach in the morning and hopefully the little one will be worn out and sleep through the heat of the day.  I planted some more phlox this morning and watered the yard, but it was really almost too hot to be out.
Our garden is starting to look a bit better.  The squash, okra, green beans, and peas we replanted are coming up and the peppers and tomatoes are looking great!
So Jerry and I watched the democratic debate last Thursday.  I must say that I was not really impressed with Hilary or Barack.  But was thoroughly impressed with Kucinich.  He was articulate and had some great ideas about how to deal with global issues without dropping bombs on everyone.  Jerry has written a really good blog entry that puts thoughts into words quite well.  Check it out!
Our weekend was good, just too short.  I sewed some on Saturday and Sunday, but still have a ways to go to get caught up.  I am hoping to have everything I want done, finished by Wednesday or Thursday.  I get the stuff in the mail to start working on the new project tomorrow!!!  I will do that this weekend, so I really want to make sure the sewing end is all done.
That's it for now.  I think I might sit outside and read while the baby boy sleeps...we'll see....

July 2006

July 02

semi-productive

So we have been annoyed with our bedroom closet.  Let me explain why.  The rental house we were in before had a walk-in closet big enough (and I am not kidding here) to be another room.  It had a ton of shelves and was big enough to fit not one, but two chest of drawers in.  So when we moved we had all this stuff and no where to really put it (well, neatly anyway...)  So yesterday we were in Lowe's and we were looking at closet organizers.  We found one we liked and brought it home.  Now, mind you, we didn't really measure the closet before we left...we weren't really in Lowe's to buy a closet organizer, but the lights we went to buy were not up to our standards....ANYWAY, we get home and get Elijah down to sleep and realize that our closet is the wrong size, BUT we make it work none the less.  We hang these tracks and then from there these shelving tracks are supposed to hang and then you can cut the shelves to fit where ever you want.  We got the first tracks hung and then called it a night.  Today we two shelve hung.  We put our clothes back in with just these two shelves and everything already fits.  We can't really figure it out.  I mean we did some purging while we were doing all this, but not THAT much.  So anyway, it was a happy surprise.  I think that now we will add some other shelves, but only for storage of linens (we don't have a linen closet either...sigh...)
So that's what we've done this weekend.  For some reason I am beat.  I have been tired all weekend long.  I know I have a kid and everything, but I am sleepier than usual.  It has gotten really hot lately, so that may be a factor.
Oh!!! Our next door neighbors had their baby.  He was a month early, but she was having signs of preecampsia so they induced.   The baby was 7 pounds 3ounces ( a month early!!!) and 19 1/2 inches long.  They came home today.  I went over to look at him as they took him out of the car, he's soooo tiny!  I mean Elijah was little, but he was over a pound heavier than this little guy.  They have to take him into the doc tomorrow because of possible jaundice(though he looks fine to me...but I'm not a doc... and I also compare all jaundice babies to mine and Elijah WAS JAUNDICE!)
Elijah wouldn't for the life of me take a good nap today and was very crabby (though I didn't put on his crabby t-shirt...) I finally gave up.  Jerry took over so I could take a nap but I could hear the little guy being a crank, so I didn't really sleep.  I got up and came into feed him at 7 and he was so sleepy that after nursing for 5-ish minutes he feel asleep and feel off the boob.  Normally he falls asleep and 20 minutes later I'm trying to pry him off without waking him up...poor guy.  Our rule is no naps after 6, but I think we'll just call this bedtime tonight.  I hope this isn't starting a trend.  He usually takes an hour nap in the morning and then at least a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.  I need the down time to rest myself and usually lie down with him or at least use that time to chill for a bit.
Last Thursday after our High Society Ladies gathering, Laura's sister's family stopped by on their way up the outer banks.  Kristen and Robert and their 2 year old Garrett.  Garrett is such a cutie!!!  And sooooo smart!!!  They are really cool parents and so laid back.  Garrett was sleepy, but a real sweet heart.  Kristen held Elijah, who promptly feel asleep!  It was good to see them and chat with them even though it was a very brief visit.
On Friday, I realized I hadn't been out of the house except to do grocery shopping on Tuesday, and I was getting a little stir crazy, so Jerry came and picked me up for a lunch date.  It was so nice to get out of the house.  I just hadn't realized it I guess.  I mean we go on walks in the morning, but just around the neighborhood.  I should try to get out and walk else where, but by the time I got the car loaded it would be way too hot!
My friend Tracey is getting married tomorrow!  I hope that her wedding is everything she has dreamed.  I'm sure it will be.  I really like the guy she is marrying and I am sure they will be very happy!
Okay, I must eat something soon...my blood sugar feels low...sigh....
July 06

Finished books and what not

So my goal is to cut down on the amount of TV I am watching.  I mean there is nothing on anyway.  I must say that I refuse to give up "So You Think You Can Dance."  I love that show!  But that's really it.  We only have 20 channels so there is no temptation to watch other crap on extended cable.
That being said, I just finished re-reading Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife.  This book ranks as one of my favorites, if not my favorite.  Her writing is almost poetic.  The love story is so happy, sad, hilarious, miserable, so many things that makes up true love.  It's the kind of book that you really don't want to end.  I must say that there were a few chapters I skipped because I knew I would cry my eyes out and there was a strong possibility I wouldn't be able to stop.  I think some people didn't like it because of the improbability of the whole thing and some tried too hard to understand the dates and what not.  It is about a time traveler, but Niffenegger does a great job of providing the reader with dates and the ages of the characters to help keep track of everything.  Even if she hadn't done this, I believe the story would still be an incredible one.
Elijah is eating away.  He has had rice (didn't like this one, we'll try again later), bananas (a favorite), pears, and peaches.  It's interesting, if I mix anything with breast milk, he spits it out.  If I mix it with water he's fine.  (we're making our own baby food by the way....) He drinks about an ounce of water from a sippy cup at our little meal time.  He's about to cut a tooth.  I can feel it when he nurses and I can see it under his gums.  He is a drooling fiend!!!!!  And right now he's being a grouch because he needs a nap....so I'm off to take care of that....
July 09

ahhhh, the weekend

Soooo, I was supposed to go to an interview on Friday for tutoring position.  On Thursday night I freaked out about it and Jerry told me to cancel.  It was very obvious I am not ready to go back to work.  Jerry told me we didn't need the money, he thought I just wanted to get out of the house.  So I called and canceled.  I felt sort of good about this, so I think it was the right thing to do.  So Saturday morning I got up mowed the back lawn.  The weather here was unseasonably cool (only 83!) so it went fast and wasn't too hard.  Then we went into town to the library and to lunch.  Jerry got a bunch of books to read and I got Babyville because Clare said it was funny, so I am excited to read it.  We got Elijah some books too.  I don't know if I have mentioned it, but we are teaching Elijah basic sign language.  Things like: food, more, drink, milk...Studies have shown that babies can communicate in sign before they can talk.  Cora let us borrow a book on it and my parents lent me their workbook from when they took a sign language course and I checked out some books at the library as well.  All very exciting.  It's pretty cool I think.  After the library, we went to Roly Poly for lunch...yummy!  Then home for a nap and then to Rachel and Erin's for a super yummy dinner!  Cora and Bill were there too with their little one.  She is soooo active!  Elijah just sat there and watched her run around, like he was taking mental notes on how to walk and run!  It was really cool! We sacked out pretty much by the time we got home.
Today I plan on getting out into our drainage ditches with the weed wacker and then cooling it...oh yeah and maybe some grocery shopping as my folks are coming this Tuesday and maybe they'd like something to eat?  We have some more cleaning to do, but not too much.  We are selling our brass bed and moving stuff around, so the garage is packed with tuff to get rid of.  I have got to get busy and list this stuff on the yard sale web site.  I hope that it sells.  I haven't had too much luck there...sigh...
Okay, I hear my boy becoming restless...I swear we have more recent pics of him, I just haven't downloaded them from the camera yet....sigh....
July 11

What is this? Am I 5?

So I woke up this morning with the back side of my neck swollen and my ear hurting like all get out (what a weird saying...) I woke up Jerry and told him I was going to the doctor's office.  Sure enough I have an ear infection. What's that about?  I haven't had an ear infection since I was a kid.  Even growing up I never even got swimmers ear and now at 30 I get an ear infection. So now I'm all freaked out because Elijah has been pulling on his ear, which I just thought was teething because he has no fever and isn't "acting" sick...sigh...Stupid ears....  At least the put me on an antibiotic and gave me some ear drops.  I will be the first to say that I hate antibiotics.  I think they are over prescribed but the medical profession...but right now I will gladly take ANYTHING that will stop this pain!!!!  (well, and won't hurt my baby.)  SO that was the excitement for the morning.
Yesterday, my friend Rachel called us and we went and walked the loop at the beach. It was so nice.  Afterwards we found some shade at the park to feed and change the wee ones and then went for pizza!!!!  After pizza we walked around this store called Once Upon a Child.  It's a consignment shop that I find to be over priced, but every once and a while you find a really good deal.  Yesterday was one of those days.  We found a little music thingy that was perfectly in tune for 2.50.  I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't found cash in my wallet ( I almost never carry cash...)  But Elijah really likes it and since it's in tune it doesn't grate on my nerves when he bangs on it.  It only plays for notes, but it is a perfect scale and when he hits two or more at the same time the notes are harmonic, so it sounds nice.  There was another one there, but the notes weren't in tune or something.  So I really like this one!  After we left there we hung out a Rachel's for the afternoon and then came home.  The rest of the day was pretty uneventful.
This morning, before we went to the doc's I checked my e-mail and three of my items I listed on the yard sale thing had sold!  So that's nice. It'll be nice to have a little play money (or whatever...)  One lady is picking up two items today and then tomorrow we'll get rid of another one.  No one has made an offer on the bed yet, but I hope they do soon.  I really want it out of my house!
Tomorrow we are going to get our pics made.  My parents will be here in this afternoon so they are going with us and then Rachel and Erin are meeting us over at the studio to get some pics as well.  I hope the kids are chill with the whole thing.  Hopefully, we'll get to go out to eat afterward.  That would be nice.
In October Rachel, Erin, Jerry and I are all going to stay at my parents house for a week for vacation.  I think it will be lots of fun!  It's also going to be homecoming at Warren Wilson, so we'll play a little over there.  I want to get a backpack carrier before then so that we can hike in the woods with our little ones.  I think it would be lots of fun!  I hope the leaves will be changing by then.
I guess I better get busy cleaning up before mom and dad get here!  It is HOT HOT HOT here today!!!!!
July 13

SIX MONTHS!!!

I can't believe it!  Our boy is six months today!  Somedays it goes so slow, but for the most part, it is flying by.  Elijah's new thing is scooting on his butt.  It's so funny.  We'll put something out of reach and he'll scoot his little self right over to it.
Yesterday we went to have pics made.  We took my parents and met Rachel and Erin over at the studio.  It was lots of fun.  Jerry's co-worker gave us a gift certificate and this place makes you use the whole thing at once, so we got lots of pics.  Afterwards we went for dinner and ice cream.  The kids did GREAT!  And I was really impressed with the photographer and the pictures turned out really well.  We like this place because you get your pictures within 20 minutes.
My ear infection is still really bothersome.  It hurts!  But I think it is getting better.  I went to my gyno today for a six month post natal/annual.  She's dropping OB to have more time with her kid and husband.  I totally understand, but I'm really bummed.  She is the only all female practice in town.  So she recommended a mid-wife for our next pregnancy...though she did say that she might start doing OB again in a couple of years...we'll see.  Anyway, I'm 3 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight!  That's exciting!  And I got a clean bill of health...always good to hear.  (Also not pregnant...small blessing!  I mean we'd be okay, but I really am not ready to be pregnant again...didn't really think we were, but you know it's always nice to be sure!)
Okay, the little 6 month old (or big) is really sleepy and fighting the sleep (hence grouchy!) so I'm off to help Jerry! ( a note about the pics... They are all digital images, in the studio they could zoom in and crop and everything.  it was really cool.  the photographer used a handheld SLR digital camera so he could move around us.  Then you get to look at them on the screen and he edited them right there.  We got to bring home a CD with all the pics, but not edited. Really a neat place!)
July 16

stupid ear....

I spent yesterday and most of today in bed.  My ear is killing me!!!!  How do kids deal with this?  Today it's just gross.  All kinds of stuff coming out of it.... I hope that means it's getting better.  I tried to sleep last night.  Jerry took Elijah all night (except to eat of course) but my ear was killing me.  The numbing drops are doing nothing!  I did manage to take a long nap yesterday.  But today I just cuddled with Elijah on the bed and read.  I have q-tips with me all the time to get the grossness before it leaks out (sorry TMI.)
The good news is our riding lawn mower got fixed.  I can't remember if I wrote that or not, but since I mowed our lawn last weekend, it doesn't need mowing yet.  I'm just happy that it'll take less time to mow it now.
I had planned on doing some shopping this weekend (I did get a new pair of sneakers...Reeboks on sale for 27 dollars!!!  They're purple and gray!) but that's been put on hold for a bit.
Tomorrow I'm canceling my dentist appointment because I can barely open my mouth wide enough to get a spoon in with food, much less a drill.  I'll have to reschedule!
Jerry just asked if I wanted to get out of the house and I think that would be fabulous....anything to get my mind of my !@#$%$%^ ear!!!!!!!!
July 18

on the mend

Sunday night was a turning point for the ear crisis.  Something popped and I was able to sleep and what not...i also realized the wonder that is the cotton ball.  I stuffed some of that in my ear to catch the drips and it was much better (and probably more cost effective) than q-tips.  I finished my anti biotic yesterday and have been taking low doses of ibuprofen to help with the swelling.  This morning I realized I didn't have to let my raisin bran sit and become mushy before eating it, so that's a big plus too.  My dentist was very kind and let me reschedule for next Monday.
This morning, after a walk, I filled up Elijah's itty-bitty swimming pool and let him play in the water for a bit.  This was a first and he really wasn't so sure about it, but as the air got hotter, he seemed to enjoy it.  He figured out how to get his hat off and that was probably more fun for him.  I kept misting him with the mister on the hose, but he was not all about that at all!  It felt good to me...IT'S HOT!!!  I talked with my folks this morning and Elijah feel asleep while I was on the phone with them.  True to form though it's only a 30-45 minute morning nap.  That's okay, though.  It makes him happier and he slept well last night.   He's sitting in the pompazan right now blowing raspberries at me, but is getting impatient, so I am off to care for him!

Houston...we have a tooth (kinda)

So Elijah has been rather cranky the past few days.  He's been boycotting naps and only sleeping an hour at a time in his crib (yeah he has ended up in bed with us the past two nights, because I do not do the running to the other end of the house hourly thing...) And today we could actually see the top of a tooth!  Jerry and I both agree that if having to spend a few nights in bed with mom and dad is the worst of the teething, then that's all right with us.
Tomorrow we go for our six month check up.  We have questions to ask the doc and are excited to see who wins the pool on his weight.  I say 24, Jerry says 19.5, my dad said 25, my mom said 30...we'll see.  I hate that he's getting shots, but I'm sure he'll be fine.
Megan comments on the size of the baby pool...it's pretty funny I agree, but for now I think it's the perfect size!  Plus it was one dollar at The Dollar Tree, so ya know, you get what you  pay for and stuff.
Claire recommended the book Babyville on her blog, so I went and borrowed it from the library.  I must say that it was a good light read, but there was a point in there where the character Sam stressed me out a bit.  She went a little haywire and I was going to throw the book, but the problem resolved itself in a way that I found acceptable.  So I was okay with it. It is always interesting to me to read books written by Brits.  They seem to do things SOOO differently and while I understand this was a work of fiction, I have to wonder how much of the baby care in there is non-fiction.  For example, they seemed just fine putting their babies on formula and feeding them at 3 months!  I would have never thought that about the British at all, but maybe I am wrong.  Anyway, a good light read.  Thanks for the referral Claire!
Speaking of things that are different in other countries...  I was reading in Mothering Magazine about the lack of mother's breast feeding upon leaving the hospital in the US.  Many blame the hospitals selling out to formula companies.  And while I agree that it is rather annoying to be sent home with sample formula even though you have marked that you exclusively breast feeding...I simply don't believe that this is the only reason that women don't breast feed.  Anyway, there was a letter to the editor from a Canadian stating that maybe it wasn't the hospitals so much as it was the country.  In Canada all women are given one year PAID maternity leave.  98% of women leave the hospital there breast feeding.  At six months 59% are still breastfeeding exclusively.  The rate in America (though I am not sure of the exact numbers at hand) are much lower.  However, many women here must re-enter the work place sometimes within a month of giving birth.  I mean there are, of course, so many other reasons, but I do believe that it would help if no one had to worry about money and job stability...(the men in Canada are given 6 months paid paternity leave!)
Anyway, there is my rant on breastfeeding for the week...
I hope that everyone is having a fab-o week.  Think of us tomorrow at 9 (EST) as we take the little guy to get his shots!
July 20

I stand corrected

My mom just informed me that she said that Elijah would weigh 25 pounds...who knows what dad said...so you know....pregnancy brain I guess.  Mom also wanted a pic of the tooth....well....that would be rather difficult since it's on the bottom and Elijah likes to keep his tongue over his bottom gum (thank goodness!!!!) It took Jerry all evening to just get a glimpse...but soon enough it will be visible in his smile...Sorry mom...but soon!
Okay, off to bed for me...
July 21

drum roll please

Elijah is a healthy 21.2 pounds, 26 1/2 inches tall (though i think the nurse mis-measured) and has a head circ of 44 cm.  For weight he is in the 95%, height , he's in the 50%, and head circ, he's in the 75%...not that that really means anything.  Our doc said that he looked like a one year old.  The doc was also impressed that Elijah was sitting on his own, could drink out of a sippy cup without much help and was a good eater.  He addressed our concerns of Elijah still eating every three hours at night and the doc mentioned to "cry it out method" and I looked at him and said that I couldn't do it, but we would try some other ways to get him to sleep a little longer (as opposed to comfort nursing.)  It's really not bothersome to me, but I don't want to make weaning in  six months-ish traumatic (Claire any insight here?)  He also addressed our concerns about Elijah seemingly trying to rip his private areas off.  I have been caught between a rock and a hard place with this one.  I want to promote self exploration and feeling free with himself, but I was worried he might hurt himself.  Our doc assured us that he wasn't hurting himself, that he couldn't pull it off, and that this is completely normal.  There were some other issues also addressed and I felt that everything was covered well.  I really like this doctor.  Even though I simply cannot do the "Cry it out" thing, he seemed understanding.  Jerry and I are working on some alternatives for this problem and I am sure we will figure it out.  (Thank goodness for supportive husbands!)
Anyway Elijah is perfectly healthy.  He's growing well (obviously) and though he was getting tired and hungry, did really well with his shots (only two this time!)  He doesn't have to go back until he's a year old!  It seems so long, but today I realized that this time next year, he'll be 1 1/2 years old!!!!!!  I can't believe it...wow!  So far Elijah has had no fever from the shots (we don't dose with Tylenol unless he has a fever.  I feel that sometimes kids may have a reaction to the Tylenol as opposed to the shots. )   He's been a bit grouchy, but he slept for a bit this afternoon on my chest while we watched FRIENDS season 9 (Jerry ordered Season 9 and 10 as a surprise!!!!!!  Now our set is complete!!!!  I LOVE FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!)   So now I'm doing diaper laundry and Jerry is trying to get a grumpy Elijah to sleep.
That's the update for now!
July 24

tooth fixed -- check

While I really really really dislike the dentist, I must say that this visit was okay....for the dentist.  I had to have a section of tooth number 30 drilled off and the decay removed and then the tooth rebuilt.  Sound difficult huh?  The whole process from numbing gel to leaving the building took about an hour.  Now I have had my share of filling.  I must say that my dentist did not hurt me at all.  I didn't even feel the pinch of the needle.  The most pain I have is my jaw hurting from being pulled and what not...
So my tooth is fixed.  With any luck I won't have to have another one fixed ever...or at least for a really long time.  Though I think this is only my third filling and actually it was on an already filled tooth.(my opinion... they didn't get all the decay last time...but who knows...)  I have had a root canal on a front tooth, but that was from getting hit in the head with a soccer ball in high school and really has nothing to do with dental hygiene or lack thereof.
We went to Rachel and Erin's for a cook out yesterday.  Man they know lots of people...of course, most of the people there were family.  Still....ANYWAY, Bill did the grilling and it was very yummy!  Cora made yummy tater salad and I fried some okra  (very southern style.)  All this was for a friend of Rachel's brother who is visiting from Germany and really wanted to experience the South.  I think he'll get a good taste for sure.  It was really fun.  Elijah boycotted naps again yesterday and I was really worried that he would not be a happy boy last night, but he was great!  This teething thing is really bothering him.  He has a hard time sleeping and poop guy has a horrible drool rash around his mouth.
I must take a moment to thank my mother for ordering us diaper liners!  As a cloth diaper user, they are now my favorite things!  Since Elijah has started solid food, other things have become more solid...EWWWWW!  The diaper liners are great.  I just put them on top of his diaper and when he poops, the liner just gets flushed down the toilet and while the diaper itself is still soiled, it is not as bad as it very well could be.  So if you are a cloth diaper user out there, I strongly recommend these for when the solids start!
Okay, Jerry is trying to put Elijah down and it sounds like he's not going down without a fight...I'm off to help and then to bed (or maybe a few episodes of Friends first...we'll see....I'm pretty beat....)
July 27

napping

Napping
(a poem for Elijah)
we lie tummy to tummy
with your head snuggled between my breasts
you ear pressed close to listen to the secrets my heart
might divulge
your arms and legs fall to the sides like a
…big cat, koala bear, tree frog…
like a little boy
you are so little
your lips start to suckle
and I wonder what you dream
is it milk
a thumb
that you are looking for
i trace the shape of your toes
your fingers
your feet
your nose
your back
you smile that sweet smile that stops my heart
you are such a perfect being
i want to protect you forever
but I know one day you’ll
…fall, get sick, get mad, hate me, leave…
but no matter what
i’ll be there for you
kissing the booboos
hugging you through fevers
trying not to shout back when you are mad
trying not to cry when you yell you hate me
waiting for your return
always supporting you
always loving you
but for now
i am content to lie here with you on my tummy
and
nap…

March 2006

March 08

minus 27 plus 7

so i had my post baby check up yesterday.  everything is great!  i've lost 27 pounds...though i think most of that was baby and goop, but still it's very refreshing to know that i may one day be back to my old weight.  i had them re-weigh me while i was holding elijah and he weighs 15 pounds...7 up from his birth weight.  he's already wearing 6 month old clothes...eeekkk!  we packed up all the clothes he's grown out of last week... there were things in that box he never wore.
my parents and aunt mavis are here-ish this week.  they are in a condo out at the beach.   but they've been very helpful coming over and doing little things around the house and watching the baby while i clean and stuff.  it's been really nice.
with elijah weighing 15 pounds he's going to have to move into his crib from his bassinet.  i'm not sure i'm ready yet...but i guess i have to be.  we're trying to get him used to it with naps and stuff...but the hands that want to hold him are greater his week.  but he'll be fine i am sure.
today we are maybe going to airlie gardens and then tomorrow to a park.  the weather is supposed to be grand for the foreseeable future.  i hope that this means spring is here.  i am trying to not get to happy yet as it could take a dip back into winter at any moment.
this weekend we are going to visit jerry's parents and on sunday erin and rachel are coming over to help get the garden started!  i'm really excited about this!  i hope that our crop is good. i love fresh veggies in the summer and to be able to pick them from our garden will be great!  we've been thinking about purchasing a deep freezer to freeze the extra veggies and stuff for later.
i guess that' about it.  elijah has a doctor's appointment next week for his first immunizations and check up so that should be exciting.  okay, i have a wiggly baby in my arms so later...
March 10

and the help leaves...boooo

this week had been really nice.  i've had built in babysitters.  now they are going to be gone.  my dining room table will become the place for clean laundry to live again....sigh....
i've eaten lots this week too.  my parents and aunt really took care of me...not to mention the baby.   they bought me a clothesline for my birthday (which is still a month and some days away...)  and this is very exciting!   of course the weather may not cooperate for a week or so for me to try it out, but i look forward to it.  it will force me outside!  one would think this should not be a problem, but when you have a little one that has to go with you...it is sometimes easier to stay right where you are.
anyway, it was nice. tomorrow we go to visit jerry's parents. hopefully his sister will be there with her girls.  it would be awesome for all the kids to be together.
that's all for now....
March 15

wednesday already?

this week has seemed to go by rather fast.  this weekend we went to see jerry's folks.  that was very nice.  then rachel and erin came over to help with the garden (and by help i mean that jerry and erin worked while rachel and i watched and played with the baby....) this went okay.  we are going to have to rent a hard core tiller to get the garden patch started.  but it was fun hanging out with erin and rachel and duke won their game sooooo it was all good!  we can't wait for rachel to have her baby.  it'll be awesome for our kids to grow up together and stuff.
so this week i have been trying to break little elijah of the habit of sleeping in my arms during naps.  it's rather hard for me to get stuff done.  today he slept well on the couch, but he's going to start rolling over soon so the couch will be out.  however, i did get a chance to try out our new clothes line while he was napping.  the weather this weekend was soooo nice and now it's chilly comparatively.  i'm so ready for spring!
friday we go for elijah's two month check up and his first shots....jerry's going to have to go in with him for that.  i know that if my baby cries i will cry.
tomorrow i am eating lunch with a bunch of women and their babies.  rachel will soon be joining in on this so it'll be even more fun.  it's a once a week thing.  i guess eventually it'll be a built in play group.  though i think that elijah may be the only boy.  we'll have to have another play group with jerry's co-worker and our next door neighbor both bonnie's by the way, and both having boys.
that's it for now....american idol results show is on and the boy is stirring....
March 17

2 month check up

So our baby is a healthy one.  He is in the 97% for weight and average for height and head size!  I cant believe that there are babies out there bigger than ours. I'm attaching two pics to this blog entry.  When we first tried the diaper wraps they were so big...now they fit perfectly.  It's just a sign as to how big is has grown in such a short time! He also got his first shots today.  He did not like this at all, but he only screamed and cried until it was over and then we gave  him lots of love and I fed him.  He's sleeping very soundly right now.  We hesitated in giving him his shots this early, but I think tht we made a good choice.  I just can't see risking it.
ANYWAY, I went to a luncheon with a bunch of other mother's yesterday.  There were six of us and Elijah was the only boy!  I can't believe it!  He was really good.  I knew three of the women there form our birth class.  Rachel said she plans on joining us once her baby is born.  It was very nice to be out and not have to worry about what people would think if I started nursing in the middle of a conversation.  Carmen is looking to start a nursing wear line. Her mother is designing things.  She was getting input from us.  I must say that this is a grand idea.  I get so frustrated looking for good nursing clothes.  none of the openings seem to be in the right place and it is very hard to find something that still covers your tummy.  On the web sites I've looked at the women are all super thin.  This is not reality.  After you've just had a baby you are not super thin!  So anyway, it sounds great!  We talked about our babies and things we're going through and stuff.  It was really nice.  Margaret hosted it this week.  She has a very beautiful home. I am so glad they included me.  We are each different and yet the fact that have brand new babies brings us together.  I can't wait for Rachel to join us!
We have decided to make the trek to Black Mountain for Easter.  It should be very interesting.  I am sure that Elijah will be fine, but I am sure we will have to stop much more frequently.  It will be good to see the extended family and for them to meet Elijah.
I'm starting a two month old photo thing.  I hope that no one is overly bored with al the pics.  But again it is for the family...
OH YEAH!  Happy St. Patty's Day!
Things I have learned since child birth:

• a diaper bag and my purse are now one in the same.
• no matter what the commercials say ABSOLUTELY NO DIAPER is leak proof.
• you can fall in love every day with a baby.
• you can fall deeper into love with your spouse.
• i am no longer grossed out if i get baby poop on me.
• cloth diapers make awesome breast pads during the night when your baby starts sleeping six hours straight and then wakes up and wants to eat every two hours during the day.
• big boobs are painful!
• big boobs full of milk are even more painful!
• babies change your life forever and i would never change a minute of it...though ask me if this still true when he turns 16!

March 18

MOTS

We went to the mother of twins sale this morning.  i got a chair, lots of toys, and some cute summer outfits...of course all for the boy.  Rachel bought some cute things for her neice, Alexis.
Jerry worked on the garden today.  We rented a hard core tiller.  We had to rent it for an extra day because the ground is so tough.  But it's all good.  Once it's tilled up it'll be all ready to plant and stuff.  I planted strawberries ina planter today.  We didn't want them in the garden since they spread all over the place.
DUKE WON!  WHAOO!  though this wasn't that surprising.  I was a little bummed for UNCW being beat by Geroge Washington, but I'm over it.  I'm proud of Wichata State for beating UT (sorry dad...)
Anyway, that's about it.  I put up some new picks of the boy in his new chair and stuff.  He's so cute!
March 21

rain shmrain

Today was rather rainy and cold.  We stayed in.  Yesterday we went to Rachels and watched Chocolat.  Very good movie...one must eat chocolate while watching it.  Jerry worked in the garden on Saturday and then worked for work all day Sunday.  He's taking Friday off though so that will be nice!
In reference to Claire's comment about the nursing clothes.  I think nursing camisoles are great.  However, I do need a lot of support in my areas.  Also I am very hot blooded since giving birth.  Currently I am in sweat pants and a nursing tank top.  This would be all well and good, but the tank top straps are not as supportive as I would like and the front is not long enough to cover my belly.  Also the openings for nursing are in completely the wrong places.  sigh... But thanks for the comment Claire.  For those who don't need the support the camisoles are fab-o!
We still haven't done our taxes.  It is looming over me now.  Elijah is such a cuddly baby that I am lucky to get a load of laundry done during the day.  His new chair is coming in handy, but he will only tolerate it long enough for me to eat or go to the bathroom.
Speaking of house work, I need to go do some while Jerry's having daddy time with the little one...
March 26

wow

i didn't realize how long it has been since i last wrote.  let's see....   elijah and i went to our little mom and me lunch on thursday.  it was really nice.  dana hosted and made soooo much yummy food.  jerry took friday off since he worked his butt off last sunday.  it was so nice to have him home for three days straight!  so friday it was raining and chilly.  we had some gift certificates so we went to kmart and then over to rachel and erin's.  they wanted to borrow our sander and we wanted to borrow their tiller, so we traded and hung out for a bit.  then we chilled and went grocery shopping.
saturday we cleaned the house...new feat with both of us trying to do things and watch a baby at the same time.  we cleaned because we had a cook out last night with rachel, erin, cora, bill, and alexis.  is was really nice.  elijah woke up long enough to watch alexis play with his toys.  he was so attentive.  you could almost hear the cogs in his little brain learning what to do with the toys.  it's amazing how fast he is starting to do things.  he is holding his head up so well now and can hit things he's aiming for if he really concentrates.  he "talks" a lot more and is so smiley!  anyway, we had a very nice dinner and hanging out.  everyone was annoyed that duke lost on thursday so we had the basketball game on as sort of a background thing.  obviously rachel is still pregnant... but we all think any minute we'll get the call that she's had the baby.
today we went to toys r us to return some items that we got but were way to small and walked around there for a while.  when we got home jerry re-tilled the garden (we should  be ready to plant next weekend!) and worked on a side garden for some flowers to go in.  elijah and i chilled a bit.  when jerry was done he took over and i went and rode 5 1/2 miles on our stationary bike and didn't some toning/abs workout on the fitness ball.  my goal is to look decent in a bathing suit by july.  i think this is feasible.  we are trying to not eat out or order in for a while.  we did really well this weekend.  there was lots of temptation to just stop and pick up something while we were out, but we came home every time!
so that's about it i guess.  jerry goes back to work tomorrow...sigh....
OH...we are trying to get elijah to take a bottle so we won't have to stop all the time on the trip home.  however, his is not working so well.  jerry is giving it to him.  he'll drink for a few minutes and then refuse to eat.  i pumped 4 ounces of milk and he drank only 1 1/2 ounces.  we tried a sippy cup and a different nipple on the bottle...nothing!  sigh.  we will try again in a few days.  as for now, he knows where the milk is and will eat like there is no tomorrow from me....  we'll figure out something i guess....
okay, speaking of....the little man is getting fussy...
March 29

lunch

This week we had our lunch on Wednesday instead of Thursday.  I thought I wasn't going to get to go because our washing machine broke this weekend and they told me that the repair guy wouldn't be here until wednesday between 8 and 5...but then the guy showed up on Monday!  Turns out there was something stuck in the drain.  It was a breast pad...how embarrassing!  However, it was so swelled up (it must have been in there for some time...) that Jerry didn't even know what it was.  EWWWWW!!!!  So now we will put all small things into laundry bags.
Tomorrow i am taking Rachel to meet a former co-worker of ours for lunch.  She still hasn't had her baby.  But I talked to Erin today and he said that things were moving along and he had her out running laps...so maybe I won't pick her up and she'll have had her baby....I'm so excited for her and I can't wait for Maya Rose to join us!
Our little group went on a walk today.  It was sooooo nice out!    I think spring is finally here.  It's supposed to be 81 degrees by Monday!!!!!!  WAHOO!!!  Anyway, all the trees are blooming and the azeleas are blooming and it's just so nice!
I am making cookies because here is no chocolate in the house and that SUCKS!  the buzzer is about to go off....so i'm off..

January 2006

January 01

happy new year!

I did not stay up until midnight (though I did have to get up and pee shortly after) and I really didn't think I would.  We left this morning to visit Jerrys parents.  They are only an hour away and we figured that if something did happen we could get back here in plenty of time.  I only had minor Braxton Hicks today and one contraction that hurt for like two seconds.  But we did go on and pack bags in case something does happen soon.  Jerry has tomorrow off and is going to finish the changing table, although the weather is supposed to be rainy!  At least he can open the garage door and take a fan out to help with the fumes.  I wish I could help, but that stuff is really dangerous for me.  I am going to make a new play list for the MP3 player that has nothing but relaxing music on it to take with me to the hospital.  It'll be soooo much easier than lugging around a CD player.  The only thing our bag is missing is the camera, MP3 player, and extra batteries for both.  Oh yeah and I need flip-flops for the shower...may be more difficult to find as it is January.  Though this weather we're having is more like late March.  I can't believe that we have had two thunder storms in the past week.

ANYWAY, we went to Jerry's folks and his mom had made this huge amount of yummy food!  I ate way too much!  The banana pudding just kept calling my name.... what are you going to do?  We got lots of goodies and it was really good to see everyone.  I wish Jerry's sister and our nieces had been there, but they have longer to drive.  It was a good day though.

The baby has either moved a little further down or has turned sideways because his foot has gone from being right next to my rib to sorta the middle of my tummy.  But I think his head is still down as I am still having lots of pressure on the bladder.  I'm trying so hard not to get my hopes up.  I really don't want to be induced, but I know that they would only induce me to make sure I don't have a toddler instead of an infant... still...we'll see.  If I haven't given birth by the 12th they will schedule another ultrasound to see how big he is (well estimate..but he is pretty big.)

Okay, that's it for now.  I'm beat....

January 04

yep, still knocked up

this is a  total exercise in patience...something i'm not all that good at. yesterday i woke up feeling gross, like i was going to throw up, so i went back to bed.  my friend rachel called later on and came over with her hubby erin and brought me some books to read.  they are so nice.  jerry took me to the mall to walk last night.  it totally started me having mild contractions.  we decided to come home and time them.  there is no pain when i have them...it's just like doing a crunch you can't release on command.  so a bit uncomfortable.  it's weird though.  after each on the baby kicks me as if to say, " hey that's not fun!"  believe me I KNOW kiddo.  anyway, they lasted about 2-4 minutes and were 5- 10 minutes apart.  no where near regular and no where near calling the doctor....sigh...i know it will happen when it's supposed to happen, but it could be any day!   i called jerry at work to tell him that rachel and erin were coming over.  he has caller ID at work.  he answered the phone on the second ring and was all come and said, "hey baby".  after i talked to him for a minute and he realized this wasn't "THE CALL" he said, "did you like how calm I was when I answered the phone?"  i think he is more nervous and excited that he lets on.  he's my rock for sure!

anyway, the baby has dropped so all night i wake up every hour to pee.  if i drink a sip of water if some how quadruples in volume... look at that a hard tummy, the fact that i can type this blog and have a contraction is saying something, but i'm to the point where i would rather it stop me in my tracks...soon enough i guess.

two of my friends and former co-workers are taking me to lunch today so i am off to shower and try to look like a normal pregnant lady...

jerry wants to put the bag in the car incase i go into labor while we are out... we'll see....

send thoughts of baby's entering the world to me please!

January 05

even the spicy food

didn't work.  we went to this place called mayfaire last night to walk around.  we went to Qdoba and i ordered the spiciest thing i could handle.  i really don't do the spicy thing that often.  i got the 3 queso nachos.  we walked for a while, but nothing...well that's not true i was having regular no painful contractions even when we got home.  but as soon as i got in bed they became more sporadic and then stopped.  a week from today and we find out if and when they will induce.  the fact that the contractions are just uncomfortable and not painful makes me think i'm in false labor.

we'll see.  i think i'll work on cleaning the house today.  anyway, jerry is under instructions to post when the baby is born and send out the mass e-mails...but don't hold your breath!  i'm not!

January 06

resigning oneself

to the fact that I am just going to be pregnant forever.  sigh.  i cleaned and fixed the nursery.  i've washed the clothes and I have the guest bedroom ready for my parents arrival.  Today I will vacuum.  I'm still having contractions.  They are a little stronger.  One woke me up this morning.  But otherwise nothing.  I'm uncomfortable and I have to pee all the time.  Ruckus' kicks are so hard that I feel like they are going to come right through my skin.  It has finally turned cold...but only for today and tomorrow.  Then by Monday it is supposed to be almost 70 degrees...

Okay, enough ranting.  I shouldn't complain.  There are worse things that could be happening.  My new favorite thing is my fitness ball.  It's a little under inflated and my new best friend.  I sit on it all the time.  It take pressure off of everywhere...it's totally going to the hospital with me.  You may think I am crazy, but don't knock it 'til you try it.  It's just like floating...ahhhh floating....  If the sun ever comes out today, I'll walk around the neighborhood.  But it's supposed to be windy and cold and cloudy all day....vacuuming will have to be the exercise I get I guess.

My mom's birthday was yesterday!  Happy Birthday mom!  I will call later to see what all they did to celebrate.  Jerry's mom think's with the next full moon I will have the baby...that's not until the 14th...but who can say.  Maybe the tides and stars will all do their thing and it'll get this baby out.  Do you think this is indicative of how he will be later in life?  Never leaving home?  I will be interesting to find out.  I just don't see how he can even move.  Supposedly he is about 8 pounds now...who knows how long he is...

Okay vacuuming...I'm off to do some of that....

January 07

really could i get any bigger?

i really didn't think i was that much bigger than i was at 33 weeks when we took the picture this morning.  but holy moly stromboli!  one can really see how i am soooo ready to have this baby. that's all ...no baby yet....

January 10

stupid msn

no we haven't had the baby. this is the first time in three days i've been able to access my site. i don't know if their server is overloaded or what. i can access other web sites unless it is an msn website and then it sometimes loads. ANYWAY, i'm still pregnant.  my skin on my belly stings it is stretched so tight.  i can't even see my belly button unless i look in a mirror.  i took a walk today and i have been doing squats, but nothing!  so i am just waiting.  we ahve a doctor's appointment on thursday.  maybe that will trigger something.  at least the weather is super nice!  i can't believe that it is mid- january and the temp is close to 70 degrees.  i hope this doesn't mean that spring will take forever to get here.

jerry's mom and one of my friends from the library think the baby will come with the next full moon, which is saturday.  that would be just fine with me.  jerry finished staining the changing table this weekend.  once it's in the room i can fill it with diapers and set up the area for wipes and stuff.  we're using cloth of both so we need water around for the wipes.  jerry's clothes barely fit me anymore.  i swear ruckus is going to kick straight through my skin any minute.  i can almost count his toes when he pushes with his little feet.  there is no way he is going to fit into newborn clothes at all...oh well...good thing we have many sizes.  we've been really lucky in so many people giving us clothes.  i really don't think we had to buy any.

i am trying to sleep as much as possible, but that's hard when i have to pee every ten minutes and my hips are killing me.  i'm just uncomfortable.  but once again my new best friend is my fitness ball.  ahhhhh....i highly recommend spending the money on one of those bad boys.  and get one that's bigger than they say.  i got one according to my height and it was so tiny.  i exchanged it for the biggest one they had at Target and it is much better and oh so comfy.  it'll be great during the birth and then after i can use it to starrt getting back into shape.  it's always been my favorite thing to play on at the gym!

so anyway, if i don't update as often as i would like, it's because i can't log on.  jerry said he can get onto his without too much trouble, so maybe i will make him update his page (we'll see...) i'll continue to try to keep updating though....it only took me since about 9:30 this morning to finally get here...not that i have a whole lot to do these days....

think baby!

January 11

ho hum

this waiting game is killing me!   maybe i should have said i would work longer.  we put the baby seat in the car the other day.  however sits in front of the car seat has to have the front seat all the way up....which means i'll be sitting in front of the car seat.  not that i can fit behind the wheel of the car.  jerry and i are both really anxious to hear what the doc is going to say tomorrow.  i'm trying not to get my hopes up too much.  i've been having really bizarre cravings though.  yesterday all i wanted was chicken ramen....what's that about?  then i wanted french fries...didn't get those.  i am loving blueberry waffles too...though that's not that weird.

i can't believe i got on MSN so quickly this morning.  i don't know what the problem was/is.  i need a project i think.  maybe jerry will finish the changing table today and i can load it up.  that would be fun.

okay that's it for now...blueberry waffles sound yummy for lunch! send good wishes for the appointment tomorrow...

January 12

doctor's appointment

SOOOOOO... the appointment went really well.  We are 3 centimeters dilated (out of 10), my cervix is 50% effaced, and the baby is at station zero.  Unless you've had a baby this probably means  nothing.  To me it means that the baby is just about to come on down.  Today I've been having a few contractions that were a little more than uncomfortable, but nothing regular.  The doc we saw today is on call this weekend and she says she expects to see us at the hospital!  We went on and made an appointment for next week, but we are hopeful!  I will probably go on a walk soon and enjoy the outdoors (it's 72 degrees here if you can believe it!)  Jerry had called the 13th.  His mom has called the 14th.  I called the 18th...we'll see.  It's all very exciting.  Everything is organized by the door and ready to go.  I just can't believe how far down he is.  Station zero is right at the cervix!  The doctor actually felt his head today!!!  I think that's so cool!!!!!!

Anyway, keep sending those thoughts.  I'm going to go sit on my ball and walk and stuff!!!!  WAHOO!

January 13

*smile*

Erin and I would like to announce that we are now the proud parents of 8 lb. 6oz. Elijah Jacob Jones. He was born at 6:00 AM on January 13 after 35 minutes of pushing. I haven't yet collected my thoughts and set down my memory of the birth, but when I do I'll be sure to post the narrative here on and my site. *cheer* He's a sweet baby boy. He's a little nonchalant about eating right now, but he's had a long day too. I think he would rather sleep than eat. He appears to be hale and hearty and is awfully curious about the goings on around him. Let's see...his official stats are weight 8 lbs. 6oz. height 20 inches head 14 inches (diameter) chest 14 inches toes = fingers = 10 That's it for now. papa = mama = exhausted. :p

January 14

an a-typical birth story...now we are home...

Jerry was so sweet to update my page for me.  What a past few days.  It still hasn't set in that we really made this being and he's going to be around for a long time.  When we got home, it startled me when he started to cry.

He's so good!  Last night Elijah and I had a little talk and he is now nursing regularly and loves it (while I am glad he is such a good little latch and sucker...my breasts are not so happy...but this too shall pass.)  I am sore, but healing well.  I had a small tear (who wouldn't pushing a 14 inch head through a 10 CENTIMENTER space....I mean something had to give...) so I am a bit uncomfortable, but it was all worth it.

My version of what happened...

After our doc appt on Thursday I had non-painful, non-regular contractions.  I went to bed at 11:00 pm Thursday night.  MY water broke at 12:50 am Friday morning.  We called the doc on call and she said we could go to the hospital or stay home.  We decided the hospital just to be on the safe side.  We didn't rush.  I really thought they would tell us we were maybe 5 centimeters.  My contractions were still not regular, but did hurt a bit more.  We got to the hospital around 2 am and checked in.  (Note to those who are planning on this pregnancy thing...take a trash bag in the car to sit on.  I was saturated when we got to the hospital!  But we saved the seats!)  On the way up to the labor and delivery ward I stopped to throw up...it made me feel better.  After checking in, I changed clothes and the nurse did a pelvic exam.  I was wound up and bracing for a long night/day in labor.  She stepped back from me and said she was going to page our doc because we were 7 centimeters and 90% effaced!!!  This was amazing to me.  Labor picked up.  The pain SUCKS!!!!  I was having back labor and NOTHING helped.  But Jerry was there and supported me and answered questions.  The hospital ad our doc were awesome at following our birthing plan.  Though I never left our room to walk and never used any of the things I took except the birthing ball.  I did sit in the shower for a while...this helped lots!  (By the way, my husband had not yet gone to bed when my water broke...how awesome is he?!)  When I reached transition (the hardest part of labor...usually the shortest and always right before birth) I thought I was going to die!  The nurse came in and asked if I wanted another pelvic exam.  I told her only if it was good news...she found this humorous...anyway we had the pelvic and I was at 9 centimeters and 100% effaced.  Regardless that I knew it would be over soon, I was begging Jerry for drugs anything to stop this pain!  I finally got comfortable (understand this is does not mean that there was not anymore pain...it was just the only way I could deal with the pain.)  I was flat on my back at the end of the bed with Jerry supporting my shoulders and head.  Jerry knew that when I said I felt like I needed to poo, that it was time and called the nurse.  We were almost at 10 centimeters with just a little lip.  At the next contraction the nurse pushed the lip over the baby's head and it was time to start pushing.

I want to stop here for a minute and say that I have read and heard that pushing is a great experience and that it feels awesome...these women must have had little itty-bitty babies....

Pushing was not only the hardest thing I have EVER had to do in my life, I was the most painful thing.  In Bradley class our teacher told us not to be on our backs when we push.  Our doc said we could be in any position...I honestly was so tired that I couldn't have turned over or been in any other position and still have pushed.  So there I was on my back with my feet in stirrups and waiting for the next contraction.  I looked at the clock at 5:25 and asked if we could have the baby by 6a.m.  Everyone in the room said I could if I pushed hard and well.  I was determined.  I was also determined to not see anything that would freak me out.  So I kept my eyes closed while I pushed and only opened them briefly to glace at the clock.  I was given oxygen because the babies heart rate was dipping (Jerry told me later that it went down to 82 beats/minute) I also accepted a topical numbing drug because they knew I was going to tear (only one stitch...no episiotomy!!)  this was the only drug I accepted during the whole labor and delivery.   I will say that after the baby's head came out, things felt a bit better and after that the shoulders came out and that felt GREAT!!!!!  After Elijah was born they put him on my tummy because this is as far as the cord would go.  The cord was apparently the thickest they had ever seen.  When I delivered the placenta they were amazed again.  It weighed almost as much as the baby!  I won't bore you with the cleaning up details and hospital stay.  We had an interesting night last night.  Jerry came home to sleep (he snores really loud, so I wanted him home so Elijah and I could try to sleep.)  Elijah and I bonded and slept for about 3 hours straight and cat napped on and off.  We were treated VERY well at the hospital and I think we had an ideal birth.  I don't think it was typical at all.  In all reality we were in painful labor for less than 4 hours and I pushed for only 35 minutes before giving birth.  I really don't think this is typical, but I am glad it was my a-typical birth.

I am still in awe that he is here and so absolutely beautiful and so good.  He had his first dirty diaper yesterday and Jerry went to change him and got peed on...it was pretty funny...

Elijah and Jerry are watching football right now...well Jerry is.  Elijah does not like to be put down alone at all, so we take turns holding him through naps...or napping with him...

we are so happy to be home!  thanks for all the well wishing!!!

January 19

a rough 48 hours

To start off...we are all doing well.  Now what happened.  Little Elijah had his first doctor's appointment on Monday the 16th.  The doc was a little concerned at his coloring and sent us to have blood work done.  His bilirubin count was a bit high and we repeated the test.  What is bilirubin?  It's the stuff that causes babies to be jaundice.  It happens to all babies, but if the count gets to high it could be really dangerous.  The second test was higher than the first so we were sent to the hospital's pediatric ward.  Here they gave Elijah phototreatment.  This was the most traumatic for me.  He had to be in a little isolette and had these things on over his eyes to protect them and all these lights were on him.  He was very unhappy as he is such a cuddly baby.  I was allowed to take him out to breast feed, but he was so upset he stopped taking my breast.  His count kept going up and we were allowed to take him out at all.  We could still touch him and whatnot.  The staff brought me a pump (it was hardcore and rather painful, but at least I got to pump...my pump was at home, and I refused to leave my little guy) I was terrified he would never go back on the breast.  But at least he was eating and this seemed to calm him down.  He was also hooked up to an IV push to help him process stopped faster.  Last night his count really started coming down and staying down so we got to have him out again.  He took immediately to the breast again!  He slept with either me or Jerry waking up only to feed.  He had to stay on a biliblanket (it's a blanket with these lights in it) but that was very manageable.  We were able to come home today without any extraneous things.  He has to be put in direct sunlight 3 times a day for 30 minutes at a time and we have to make sure he eats well and is having several dirty and wet diapers daily.

We are glad that no transfusion was involved (if the count had gone higher, this would have had to happen.)  We think that his liver had just not finished developing all the way.  But he is doing great now!

He has learned to latch on in the cradle position (he would only latch on earlier on the side and now he latches on to the front...like most pictures of nursing women...it's much more comfy to me and hopefully to  him.)  And while he still latches on very well, it's not nearly as painful as it was.  Either he got just a little lazy from the bottle or my breasts got toughened up from that pump or maybe a bit of both.  While he is still a very cuddly baby and prefers to be held, he will take a nap and sleep independently of us. So while it was traumatic, good things have come out of it.  My parents are THANKFULLY here to help.  So Jerry and I can finally get some rest.  They bring Elijah in for feedings and have done a crazy amount of cooking.  We were not brought food as we weren't the the patients, so mom and dad came to the rescue.  Jerry even got a chocolate pie for his birthday yesterday... it just sucked we had to be in the hospital for his day.

Okay, I need to go sleep a bit more while Elijah's knocked out.  I'll try to keep this updated as thing progress...you'll understand why I have taken no pics in the past couple days, but I sure we'll have more soon!

January 22

cloth diaper humor!

So we want to use cloth diapers.  We waited until Elijah's cord fell off and we decided to give it a try.  We had bought these covers that said they were good for 22 pounds and under.  I guess I didn't stop to think that maybe what could fit a 22 pound baby might be a smidge big on a 8 pound baby.  So then we decided to try with just the diaper, using pins.  Also didn't work very well, as neither of us could get the diapers tight enough with our little soccer players legs kicking so much.  We thought it was hilarious.  So we are still using the diapers people have given us and ordered cover specifically for his weight.  Hopefully those will arrive before we run out of disposable.  It's amazing to me how many diapers this little guy can go through!  I'm glad we don't have to buy any more!  We did this calculator that showed us that we would break even using cloth diapers by the time he is five months.  Not to mention that we will never have to buy any more diapers for the next kids.  It may take some getting used too, but so does breastfeeding!

Okay, I think my guy is about to fall asleep and I think I would like to nap before his next feeding...boy is my milk in and it shows when I put on a tank top!!!

By the way, we are all doing well.  Eli has a dr.'s appointment on Friday!  Hopefully it will be all good news!

January 25

just a quick note

just wanted to let everyone know that all is well.  we are just tired and totally engrossed with our cutie!  i'll write more later!

 

January 28

so sleepy

we went to the doctor's yesterday and got a clean bill of health!  our little guy now weighs in at 9 pounds 2 ounces!  i thought he felt heavier!  he has a little bit of a stuffy nose.  let me tell you how fun putting saline drops into an infants nose is...

jerry and i have been trading nights off.  jerry will stay with Elijah one night and bring him in just for feedings and then i will stay with him the next night.  it's nice, because we both end up getting some sleep.  regardless i usually take over at 6 in the morning just because i'm up by then anyway.

we finally have success with the cloth diapers.  we got the right sized covers the other day and while the are bulky, they are snug.  we've really only had one leak and it was just pee (thank goodness!)  hopefully these will last until he is big enough to fit in the others, otherwise we'll have to get the next size up.  we'll see.

so how long ago did they change the format here?  i totally haven't been paying attention.

mom and dad left this morning.    they'll be back in march sometime.  but this is a chance for me and jerry to do this on our own...it had to happen eventually.  i think we are ready.  it's not like the little guy does a whole lot...though you wouldn't know it from the way we constantly stare at him.  he has these expressions that he goes through in his sleep that just crack us up...not to mention the little noises he makes...speaking of which....