September 13th Photo Phrenzy

3 strikes...

Last week Arianna got a cold - nothing new for her and it turned out to be not that bad. She was coughing alot (par for the course) and had alot of nasal congestion.

Getting a 2.5 year old to watch where she coughs is no small feat and as 'luck' would have it Daria caught it this week. You can imagine any parents scare when a newborn gets a cold. When it happened to Arianna just 2 weeks after she came home from the NICU she ended up in the PICU on oxygen for nearly a week - after doing a fully dramatic run through the emergency department for admission (we thought we were part of some wierd TV show as about 10 different doctors ran into the 'trauma room' to help her).

Daria is handling it much better than Arianna did - she's stuffed up and sneezing and coughing quite a bit. But we don't have to watch her for breathing trouble and retractions. I can continue to suction her nose and feed her when she wants and she'll probably pull through just fine...

2 nights ago she kept us up until 4 AM, but last night she slept the whole night. I'm trying to not jinx myself but I hope it wasn't the cold keeping her asleep because I could get used to getting more than 3 hours of straight sleep! I could have rivaled Linda Blair for her exorcist role yesterday morning...

What a nice change - just another preemie/full-term difference I guess...

Wednesday my mother had surgery on her jaw... again. I feel cursed as far as teeth are concerned. My mother has been battling dental osteomyelitis and other assorted teeth/jaw infections for a few months now and it finally came to head a few weeks ago when she nearly died during what should have been a routine teeth extraction. After more than a week in Boston Medical Center she was back there again on Wednesday as the infection is still in her jaw. She had it surgically irrigated again and now has a PICC line for at least 6 weeks for antibiotics. She'll eventually have all her teeth removed as she's had 4 root canals this year alone. My father had all his teeth removed at 18 for similar problems. Me? I've got tons of cavities since I was very young and very soft teeth - I should start saving up for dentures as I'm sure I won't see 40 with my own teeth considering my parents have had all these problems with theirs.

To top it off, yesterday my father took their beloved siamese cat, Baby, age 13, to the vet because she was vomiting alot. The vets office had been watching her for a few months for hypothyroidism and weight loss. So how is it the cat dies at their office? How is it that a cat who had supposedly been watched closely dies so suddenly? I talked to my dad last night and not only was he 'drunk as a skunk' and talking about how they'll never get another cat because this hurts so much, but also talking about how their other siamese cat "Little One" is missing her friend. I know how much it hurts to lose a feline friend suddenly and I'm sad for them - and more sad for my brother because he's in California for school for a few months and can't be here to say good bye to 'his cat'.

We're now awaiting news on my father's uncle who was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, UTI and 'something wrong' with his pancreas. At 76 having 'something wrong' with your pancreas is not good news and if he was to pass away I know that my entire family will be devestated - he's the uncle everyone loves.

We're all praying hard here - lots to pray for unfortunately.

Maybe she's got it?

Since Arianna is enjoying her day with her friends at daycare, I decided to take advantage and get some 'Daria' things done.

First I stopped off at my office to show off the little cherub. Of course she was a big hit - how can she not be?

After we left there we drove into the city for an appointment with a lactation consultant. The last two nights Daria has fed about 8 times between 6 and 11 and done so amidst screaming... she also has been a loud nurser - she would make a 'smacking' sound alot and had me worried her latch wasn't correct. Add the two of them together and I was pretty convinced her poor latch was making breastfeeding pretty ineffective for her.

I got to the LC office and was pleased to have someone who had worked with me and Arianna when we were still trying to breastfeed. She remembered my face which was nice.

She weighed Daria before we started - 9 lbs. 9 oz. she's a moose! Then I got situated on the couch and got the boppy pillow in place and we got her latched on. Not only did she pull the 'let's be an allstar' card but she took in 2 oz. in just 10 minutes - WOW! Then, she went to sleep.

So she made a liar out of me, basically.

But I got some good tips on positions - my problem has been that I'd get her latched on and then get her in the correct position, probably breaking her latch in the process. I also asked her about introducing a bottle - I've been pumping once a day to build up a small freezer stash and would eventually like to introduce an overnight bottle so its not always me feeding her at night. In a moment of weakness last night I attempted to introduce a bottle... it didn't go well. The LC told me that I shouldn't be the one to introduce the bottle as sometimes the baby can tell who's feeding them and it might be confusing to it. So in another week or so we'll try introducing the bottle after we're sure she doesn't have any latch issues.

On the plus side, her cluster feeding between 6 and 11 PM is a good sign - she's storing up for night time so that she can sleep through the night, so we may get reprieve from nighttime fussiness sooner rather than later. Right now she's only up once after 11/11:30 - usually between 3:30 and 4:30 and then she sleeps until 7:30 or so which is great.

After leaving the LC we met hubby for lunch and now I'm home. She's fed 3 times with my new position knowledge and done great - no smacking sounds and her nursing really 'feels' right now. Of course, she was crying each time I'd lay her down - hopefully that's just a 'I'm still hungry' cry and not something else. She seems to be sleeping soundly now... so I'll take advantage and clean the bathrooms before she wakes up and we have to go pick up her big sister...

Hard to get used to all this room!

The 'soft of' big stretch

How I manage to do laundry...

She'll be a Picasso wannabe by 4 - cause I do tons of laundry! ha!

PS. Laura - these are nifty fifty photos - I love that lens!!

She's growing up (sob sob)

Yesterday we went to a friends little girls birthday party. Samantha was turning 4 and we've been to all of her parties and every year they have a giant inflatable jump house for all the kids to play in. Last year was the first year Arianna could actually use it (was finally walking well etc.) but she was too timid scared.

She's still timid and scared but I got her to go into the jump house with me! I was so proud of my little munchkin - the other kids could jump/run in it where as Arianna was much happier just walking and holding mommy's hand. She enjoyed sitting on my lap while I bounced her around and we could play 'ring around the rosie', which she loved. It was wonderful to see her doing things that other kids close to her age could do.

Plus, it was fun for me to do something 'kid like' too - I forgot how much fun those jump houses could be! haha

There was another 'new mom' there. Daria is 3 weeks tomorrow and this other new moms little boy was just 6 days younger. She wouldn't go in the jump house because 'she hadn't been given permission to exercise again'. LOL I guess second kids make you super crazy huh?

Beco baby carrier

Last week I ventured out with both of the girls to a maternity shop near the house. Last Sunday we had taken a trip to Edaville Railroad and I realized how much easier the entire day would have been if I could have found my Maya sling I had used with Arianna. But alas, its gone into the abyss that is our basement.

Well I needed another one. I had alot of 'issues' with the Maya sling and wanted to try on some others before I purchased this time so we went to an actual maternity/parenting shop to try some on.

I was introduced to the Beco 'Butterfly' baby carrier pictured here. It holds up to 45 lbs. so technically I could carry Arianna in it until she's 10 (I jest but in reality her non-weight gain is frustrating to us).

It's not cheap at $140 but its easy to get baby in and out of and Daria seems to like it, plus, unlike the Maya sling it frees up BOTH of my hands and feels very secure. The directions say you can nurse an infant in it but I fail to see how so for now I'll just continue to take her out to do that.

So anyway, highly recommended!

Second rate?

Daria was a surprise to us - my 'mommy intuition' told me she was a boy. Her ultrasound pictures showed a very different baby (facial features TOTALLY different from her sisters) and she was in the 90th+ percentile for growth starting at 24 weeks - it had to be a boy right? You can imagine my surprise when hubby announced "It's a girl!" in the delivery room - I think I actually said "Really?" in between tears of joy (because my baby was actually crying this time).

But because we didn't find out the gender ahead of time we didn't buy ANYTHING for her. We had everything we'd need for a new baby from Arianna's baby days. We figured if it was a girl we'd be more than all set for clothes as Arianna has bags and bags of clothes she never even wore, and if it was a boy at least the nursery would be all set as the walls were already painted a deep blue.

Well today is the day we try to put her as a priority. We had nothing new for her and I felt she was getting 'second rate' treatment before she was even born - now I'm trying to make up for it.

She needs a room now. She's a 'noisy sleeper' and I don't work well sleep deprived. As soon as she is sleeping through the night she's going in her room. I pray she follows her sisters route and is sleeping through the night by 4 months! But, she doesn't have a room. Right now its chock full with junk.

We have 2 desks, a 5 draw file cabinet, twin sized bed, 5 shelf bookcase, ironing board and all of Arianna's 'new to her' furniture in there - we can barely open the door without bumping into something.

So today we cleaned up Arianna's room and consolidated space. We have enough room in there now to move all her 'new to her' furniture (courtesy of one of my awesome coworkers! Thanks Sally!) into her room and move all the other pieces into the basement, somewhere.

Then we get to paint. I'm secretly happy Daria was a girl when it comes to decorating and dressing - I get to paint pink! Ya! I'm really looking forward to doing it up 'right' for a girl. Arianna's room is a nice purple-ish blue that technically is unisex but a baby boy was in the room prior to her.

This is the theme her room is going to be. I'm also going to alter some letters that spell her name to go on the wall and hope to get a 'wall quote' for her room also.

Now, if I could only figure out a way to recover the glider rocker that was a gift when Arianna was born I'd be super happy because its seen 'better days'...

Invasion of the body snatchers

This blog totally fell by the wayside during my pregnancy so I haven't been able to share with you all the joys of being a mom to Arianna... aka primadonna, aka dramaqueen

I joke with my Dad that we have to 'save' Daria from the primadonna effect that has so engulfed her sister.

Arianna is very needy and I'm not sure where it came from. My pregnancy had very little effect on her until I was put on bedrest yet her needy-ness started well before that. Up until then I was doing everything with her I had done before, even picking her up and carrying her around - I doubt there was a change in 'lifestyle' to initiate this change in her behavior.

I think it was aliens.

Seriously - how many kids need you to sit by their bed and hold their hands until they fall asleep? And if you make too much noise leaving their room they'll stand at the door and cry until they fall asleep on the floor? I don't see how this is comfortable for her - sleeping on the floor all night, because we can open the door to put her back in bed as she has wedged all 24 lbs. of herself between the door and the wall behind it. It has to be aliens.

How is it that the kid who LOVED bugs in the spring will suddenly totally flip out, almost to the point of tears, if something (doesn't even need to be a bug) is within eyesight? I almost drove off the road one day when from the back seat I hear (in blood curdling scream tone) "MOM!! BUG!! QUICK, GET IT GET IT!! MOM!!!" That one is aliens FOR SURE.

Not only that but its her intense need to be the center of attention at all times that really gets to you - I can't even do laundry anymore. This morning for instance she fell down the basement stairs (much to the chagrin of her nose) while trying to follow me to the laundry room. Bad bad mommy award right here! She knows, all too well, how to get her way. While nursing her sister this morning, in the recliner, she would try to wedge herself onto the arm of the chair, lean over, kiss Daria and rest her head on my shoulder while saying "I love you so much Mom". (Yes, the collected 'awww' can be heard here). But in reality - it gets old quickly. Mainly because when she does this her sister breaks her latch and starts screaming and Arianna has used her elbow as a pivot point (placed ever so nicely on my upper body somewhere) to get up and down from the chair causing me lots of pain. No, its not so cute anymore...

Toddlers... when do the aliens leave? Someone told me it could be 4 or 5... I don't think she'll make it that long.

A change I can live with!

I'm so blessed.

In addition to my wonderful 'take home kid', she is breastfeeding well. Her latch still needs some work but I'm hoping its something she will learn on her own in the next week or so (if not, then I'll be taking a trip to the LC again).

What's nice about having a kid that breastfeeds normally is that... I DON'T NEED THE DANM BREAST PUMP.

And the nice side effect of that is that I'm not 'overproducing' milk! By the time Arianna came home from the NICU I had enough frozen milk for 5 freakin' months of straight bottle feeding - and that was following the traditional pumping schedule of every 3 hours - I'm just a g'danm cow I guess.

So needless to say I had HUGE knockers early in Arianna's life. I was an H/I cup and it really wrecked havoc on my self esteem - I felt huge and fat and hated it.

This time since Daria eats well at the breast and I don't need to overproduce to fill her needs, I'm not huge up top - yes, I'm still big, but not much bigger than I was when I was pregnant and I can totally live with that.

This is totally a change I can live with - just hope they don't get too much bigger as she grows and gets bigger!

Getting back to normal...

Phew - it feels nice to be settling into a routine and getting 'back to normal' - something we haven't known for 9 months now. Of course, 'normal' has changed now that a new baby is in the picture, but its nice to get back into a routine for Arianna's sake.

Sunday we decided to treat her to a 'day out with Thomas (the tank engine)' at Edaville Railroad in Carver, MA. Grandma and Grandpa came too and even though us adults didn't ride a single ride that didn't include her, we all had a fantastic time just watching her have fun. It must be one of the 'signs of parenting' when you leave a kids (mostly toddler) friendly amusement park having had as much fun as the kids. We even ran into one of Shawn's old coworkers and showed off the new baby. She was working with Shawn when Arianna was born and remembers her scary start and was very excited we got our 'big baby' as she called it. Daria was actually really great the whole day - she breastfeed 3 or 4 times and didn't have a ton of trouble latching so that I would have to worry too much about helping her and trying to keep a blanket over the two of us for privacy.

Arianna, of course, had a blast! She rode on the merry-go-round 3 times (in a row!), the turtle express, the caterpillar, the rocket ships, the train, and went down 'the big slide' and rode on the swings - she had a lot of fun. So much fun she fell asleep on the swings when Grandpa was pushing her! But despite the shortened nap she was in a really great mood and very enjoyable - and best part is that she had no accidents all day! We were really proud of her.

5 hours later we made the trip home where both our girls slept soundly in the car allowing Mommy to catch some Zzz's too - this 'up every 3 hours at night' thing is harder to adjust to than I thought!

Introducing...

Daria Michelle
August 19th, 2008
6:03 PM
7lbs. 14 oz. and 20" long
born at 36 weeks 5 days - the 'take home kid'!

Our last family portrait...

...before everything changes!

Slipped again...

ahh... I don't know if we'll ever get passed this.

Arianna's latest weigh in, at 28 months actual, 25 adjusted ... 24 lbs. 2 oz. or 10th percentile for her adjusted age. She hasn't been on the weight charts for her actual age since 12 months.

She eats really well but is having some behavioral problems at meal times and its a hard line to walk regarding teaching her proper meal time behavior vs. getting her to eat. Since I've been on bedrest hubby has been doing all the cooking and I'll be honest - we're eating badly. He just doesn't think of wholesome and nutritious foods for meals. He thinks of ease and meat... that's it. So when I get out of bed to get to the table I have to remind him to get things for her to eat but at the same time our nutritionist says she should eat what we eat. Then comes the temper tantrums - she'll start playing with her food (usually squishing it in her hands) and we'll remind her that food is for eating not playing and then she'll start throwing food and yelling. So then its time out (again) and then she won't eat anything else for the rest of the night "NO! I don't like food!" (Well, duh, I know that!)

So we try to make up with it at breakfast by giving her high fat foods for breakfast (waffle COVERED in butter, yogurt and milk) and she'll eat all of it and then some. She continues to eat well at daycare but dinner time is really hard. She's also really active and running all over the place now - so that's hard too.

But I look at it this way, she looks healthy and no one is overly concerned because this has been her path for over a year now. She's a very happy toddler (despite her spending the majority of her day at home in timeout...seriously) and very active... we'll start adding in more fats again and hope it makes a difference at her next weigh in.

Oh ya, and on the potty training front - she's a super start. More accident free days than not! I may actually get my dream of having only one kid in diapers soon enough!

Conversations with a 2 year old

Arianna: Daddy, I've got a boo boo!!!
Dad: You got a boo boo honey?
Arianna: Ya, it really sucks Daddy


Lovely... Almost as good as "I don't like it!!" Or the new answer to "did you wet your pants?... "I don't know...". um, ya.

I thought this was cute...

Most of the comments I hear from people when we talk about homeschooling involve socialization. It seems everyone knows 'someone' who is or was homeschooled and they are social misfits and don't fit in etc. People hold onto this one person as the shining example of the result of homeschooling. Have you ever met a public/private schooled person who would fit that same description of social misfit who doesn't fit it. I've met many more of them than the homeschooling kind.

Truth of it is that socialization and outreach to the community needs to be a priority of the homeschooling parent and its not as hard as you think it is...

As a homeschooling parent you need to be prepared for the critisism and understand that the majority of it comes from ignorance. Don't let anyone else's ignorance dictate how you choose to raise your kids - stand tall and stand up for your kids :)

2 years later...

... and it still bothers me when Arianna does cool stuff at daycare and I'm not there to see it.

I'm very grateful for the home based daycare that Arianna goes to. Its wonderful and Arianna has really blossomed since attending. It's really amazing what being around other kids can do for ones development!

Today she's going strawberry picking for the first time. When I heard this all I could picture were the really cool photos I could take and fun scrapbooking layouts I could make. Only I'm not going to be there to take the pictures because I'm working. Its great that she gets to go but I'm so sad I can't be there.

2 years of someone else watching her grow and experience new things - 2 years of someone else broadening her horizons and exposing her to great news things...

I can't wait for the fall to come...

Dodged a bullet!

We picked up Arianna's new glasses today and I think we're going to have a hard time getting them off her face - a good problem to have. She loves everything about her new glasses, including the funky pink case that comes with them. She even took them off and put them on correctly afterwards - which amazed me. Boy did we dodge a bullet with this one - I think she'll do just fine with them!

Waiting patiently with Dad for her new glasses (but she has the case so she's happy!)

Trying them on for the first time - no tears or even blinking!

Doesn't she look totally adorable?!

She is definitely seeing things differently now - she was walking more cautiously and on the drive to daycare she was pointing out everything in the car that she's never noticed before. I think she'll do great and it was a great move for her!

It was inevitable

Yesterday Arianna had her 2 year appointment with the ophthalmologist and her vision is still 4.5+ in both eyes. She can't see very far away and when she tries her eyes cross, severely. So it's time...

Her doctor told me that girls handle glasses better (personally I loved my glasses as a little kid) and after about 3 days its no longer a struggle to get them to wear them because they'll see so much better! I hope this is true for Arianna also.

I have some research to do to see which glasses would work best for her. I'd love some words of wisdom from any parents who have helped a toddler adjust to glasses. My parents were spoiled when I was young and my Dad's vision plan included unlimited glasses - with me making the transition to 'stay at home' mom this fall we won't have ANY extra money and I need to make sure we don't go through glasses like water!

Any advice is surely appreciated! I bet she'll look totally adorable in them!

Special preemie

I wanted to take a moment to tell everyone about Landon, an preemie that I 'met' on the internet shortly after Arianna was born. He was born at 30 weeks and had a very rough road - as it turned out he had a rare mitochondrial disorder that is incurable.

His family lives in Missouri and is trying to move to Houston to be closer to the only doctors that have been able to help him. Please check out his website and consider making a donation to help their move. His mom is an amazingly strong woman that I can only hope to emulate.