May 11, 2013

In nine days Moose will be a year old.  I can not even fathom where this year went.  It has flown by so fast!

I keep telling people that with Katherine I kept wanting to experience the next thing.  I wanted to see her meet her milestones and learn new things.  I was so worried she would be behind.  I didn’t realize exactly how much each child does things at their own time and that each child is perfect. 

With Moose, I just keep wanting time to stand still.  To enjoy each moment, keep him a baby.  Time is flying.  He is cruising around the house.  Standing without holding on to anything.  He will be walking soon.  I’m not ready.  I want him to stay a baby.

We aren’t sure if we will have any more children.  We absolutely will not be pursuing treatments.  So, I need him to stay a baby for at least another year to make sure I get my baby fill.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he is going to humor me on that one.

He is still in therapy and making great strides.  There are some things that he isn’t improving on.  His therapist wanted me to get a referral to a specialist but his pediatrician doesn’t think that is necessary yet.  The pediatrician did a bunch of x-rays of his back and neck and they looked good.  Now we are waiting to hear from the Children’s Hospital so we can go for a MRI to see what is going on and why things aren’t progressing.

I keep praying we will get a definitive answer.

Katherine is 4.5 and she is wonderful.  She is imaginative and out going.  She keeps me smiling with her personality.

Crying.  Time for me to go…

Grandpa Lock

This past weekend I took the kids and flew to Virginia. My grandfather was being brought home on hospice.  The cancer had spread beyond hope.

I was able to help take care of him.  I was able to teach my mother and grandmother how to give his insulin injections in his stomach.  One thing infertility taught me, injections.

Today is my grandparents’ 68th wedding anniversary.

This morning Grandpa went to be with the Lord.

Grandma says it is fitting that they started their life together today and today they end their time together.

I already had my tickets to fly back tomorrow and I was going to see them.  I really thought I would get to see him one more time.  It is better that he is out of pain and my grandmother was killing herself taking care of him.  I just can’t imagine losing your partner of 68 years.  She could use your good thoughts.

Too Much

I haven’t posted since November, it is almost February.

It seems I always have too much to do.  Not enough time.

I have too much to write, not enough time.

I mean, where do I even start?  Christmas. New Year’s. Milestones. News.

Short and sweet is probably the more sure fire way to get to publish a post.

BigP and K are awesome. BigP works. K is going to school, church activities, and doing tap and ballet – which she LOVES.  She is so cute in her leotard and skirts.

I am a hormonal wreck. I have been working on weaning Moose. It is nice to have my body back.  Yesterday I put on my first non nursing bra since the end of 2011!!  It was luxurious to have a bra with padded straps.

Moose is doing awesome.  He is still doing physical therapy twice a week.  He is about 60% delayed.  He has been evaluated and as soon as all the red tape is through he will start occupational therapy twice a week.  He is about 35% delayed.  Those numbers sound bad to me but most people don’t even realize he is “behind”.   It is hard for me to comprehend because I just see him growing and changing and meeting challenges.  He is showing so much improvement that it is weird to think of him as still having so far to go.  He is amazing.  He is happy and loving and wonderful.

He loves to eat.  He would only take a bottle from me until yesterday when he started taking them from BigP too.  He won’t take them from anyone else.  He loves to feed himself now that he can, Cheerios are a big hit as well as those Gerber puffs. 

I can’t believe he is eight months old.  Time sure has flown.

And, now he is awake from his nap.

Day Two

I have actually managed to sit at my computer two days in a row.  I haven’t sat at this computer in ages.  I do mostly everything from my phone these days because it is easier to hold Moose and my phone then to try to sit at a computer and type.

Everyday we stay so busy and I don’t know how working mothers do it.  Between doctor appointments for me and both kids (dentist, dr, gyno, and pediatricians), physical therapy twice a week, K’s school three days a week, church activities, baby photos and  family photos this week, starting baby food, and trying to decorate for the holidays I am starting to feel overwhelmed.  Not to mention the holiday shopping, baking, and household chores.

Hopefully I will be getting out of the house Saturday night for a hour or two with my sister to go hang with some lovely ladies.  I need it.

====================

K went to the dr this past week to get her flu shot, she is up to 44 pounds.  I should have some amazing arms.  Should.

Uh oh, Moose is calling.

 

Beach

Earlier this month we took the kids back to Virginia to see family.  We rented a place right on the beach because ever since this summer K has been DYING to go to the beach.  All the kids shows talked about the beach and we have never taken her.  I won’t mention the shame/guilt I have over that seeing as how I was raised around water my whole life.

The trip was long (20+ hours each way) but the kids did great.  K is an amazing big sister and helped keep Moose entertained when he started fussing.  The weather was great, the day we planned to spend on the beach was 70+ degrees.  The water was cold but that didn’t stop BigP from taking K into the waves.

The rest of the time was cold and/or rainy but we had museums and family to see.  We jammed as much as we could into the trip (I do not recommend).  We were exhausted for the drive home.

BigP laughed at me because I printed out 100 questions, but when we both got tired at night while driving on the trip I broke them out and we talked and laughed.  I highly recommend this.

It was great to see the family.  The time with them went way too fast.  I did get to see my best friend and her husband so that was awesome but I didn’t get to see any other friends.  I also hoped to go on a date with BigP while we were there and that didn’t happen either.  I also didn’t get to eat nearly as much seafood as I had hoped for, but if these are my biggest complaints then the trip was a huge success.

Quite a bit of the time in the car BigP and I were planning other trips.  Although this trip was to see family, this was the first trip we didn’t stay with family.  We have never ever taken a trip that we didn’t go to see family AND stay with them.  We have never taken a vacation just the two of us (or three, or now four).  We want to start doing that.  We have a long list of places we want to see and take the kids so hopefully we can start doing a trip a year.

November 3rd

I miss blogging.

I just never get to my computer these days and when I do it is always cut short and I never get to post.

There is no way I can update two months worth (Moose is already fussing in the next room with BigP…).

Moose is still in therapy.  He met all of his goals for his torticollis but they did another physical evaluation and he is now 60% delayed.  He has a whole new list of goals.  The torticollis has turned into a huge blessing.  We kept being told by nurses to expect him to have delays but without the neck issue we wouldn’t have been in therapy and already working on things.  I feel like we are ahead of the ball, for now.

I plan on asking Early Intervention to do another full evaluation (physical, occupational, and speech) in a few more months, maybe closer to one year old – we will see how things go.  I would like to stay on top of these things and head off any problems as early as possible.

Halloween was a blast!!  K was a pink dinosaur and Moose was a dragon.  They were adorable together. We only went to a few houses, someone in my sister’s neighborhood set off fireworks, it was more about being out at night with their cousins than the candy.

Later this month we are going back to Virginia to see family and we rented a beach house.  K is so excited she can’t wait.  She has never been to the beach and she has been talking about it for months.

I’m trying to get ready for Christmas and I have about half of the gifts for people bought…time is going so fast these days!

Time is up. Moose is hungry. 

Please know I’m reading and following along with you guys, just not commenting much.  Love to you all!!

September?

I can’t believe it is September already!

My parents came and went.  It FLEW by super fast.  It was a great time.  They are always super helpful, especially with the kids but with anything I need.  My Mother spent a lot of time holding Moose which meant he didn’t care to eat every hour.  My nipples are forever grateful.  Since they left he has gone back to cluster feeding in the evenings.  sigh.  It was nice while it lasted.

My Father baptized Moose.  It was beautiful.

They left Wednesday and BigP left this morning.  My house sounds so empty.

It is strange to go from all that help to parenting solo for the weekend.

BigP will be back Monday.  He went to go see his NFL team play tomorrow with his best friend.  When he gets back he will be working non-stop so he really needed this weekend.  He deserves some man-time and to let loose without wifes or kids.

Moose is gaining weight, he is over 14 pounds now.  It is getting harder and harder to carry him in his infant car seat.  I got spoiled to my Dad carrying him around while they were here visiting.  Moose is living up to his name.  We are so lucky he is so healthy.

Physical therapy is going well.  He still has a ways to go with his muscle strength but the muscles are stretched so that is great news.  He is still going twice a week and he has still been getting fussy but lately it is only towards the end when he is tired and doesn’t want to be messed with any more.  This is a great improvement from the shrieking and crying he was doing before.

I’m having issues with my birth control.  The hormones are the lowest dose (because I am nursing) but it obviously isn’t enough to actually regulate me.  I’m bleeding/spotting ~10 days -the second week, into the third week of active pills, and again at the end of the fourth week with the sugar pills.  NOT COOL.  I’m guessing I just need to go off them and see if my body regulates on its own?  I go back for my annual exam in November.  Maybe if my body regulates I can go back on the pills at the right time to work with my natural cycle…

Overall, things are really good.  The weather is starting to cool off a tiny bit…but we will take any relief we can get.  I’m gearing up for Halloween.  The kids costumes are ready (purchased, not made) and I am working on mine (made, not purchased).  We will see if it gets finished.  I had high hopes for last year and it didn’t happen so we will see if I get one done this year…

I’m way behind in birthday and Christmas shopping but it is starting to come together.  At least I finally have ideas for most people (my Father is the HARDEST person to buy for).

This year is flying by…so I should probably go ahead and wish you a Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year while I’m here!