The Super Soaker 5,000

Domestic Diva (in training)

As you know, I was planning to give my notice when I returned to work. I did just that and they asked me if I would be willing to work part time. Part time would be fine with me if I could find reasonable child care. Meaning, reasonably priced, not a daycare - but a person that kept only a couple kids. Well, Jason and I met with a lady that keeps kids just down the street from us. She has 4 of her own, the oldest in kindergarten plus some more she watches. After visiting with her and seeing how many kids she has to watch day to day, I was overwhelmed all over again about leaving Elise. I didn't feel like she would have the attention she needs with all those kids, but while I was thinking that, Jason was thinking to himself that it's a great idea! We walked down the driveway, I got in the truck and didn't even have it started before I busted into tears. Of course, Jason asks what's wrong and in between sobs I say "You're...... gonna make......me leave her...... aren't you?!" No more words were exchanged beyond that.

Fast forward to today... I am currently at a stay at home mom. However, my first week at my new "job" isn't quite going as I had envisioned in my mind. I was envisioning days of playing with my daughter, keeping up with the house and laundry while she naps, getting myself showered and dressed before noon, meal planning, all those domestic duties my husband would appreciate coming home to. However, I have only managed to complete a few loads of laundry, take myself to the doctor, bathe both Elise and myself yesterday afternoon after a spit up accident, and haven't showered yet today. I wasn't looking forward to starting out my week being sick. Luckily, I made it to the doctor this morning, got some antibiotics and will hopefully be on the mend very soon.

I am very fortunate to have Jason around, though. I know not everyone is lucky enough to have their husbands help with dirty diapers and get up in the middle of the night to help with feedings. He does so well with Elise, I wasn't a complete nervous wreck while I was working and he was staying home with her. He might need a little guidance when it comes to picking out clothes for her wear, but if that's the least of my worries I'll take it!

Video

All I Want For Christmas...

Need Meds, STAT!

I think the lack of rest and constant running around (let's not forget the stress about returning to work, quitting my job, then meeting a potential part-time babysitter - but that's another day) has finally caught up to me. Now I am laid up with a runny nose, congestion, and sore throat. Not only do I fear getting Elise sick, but any kind of cold medication could dry up my milk.... my worst nightmare! I want to avoid formula at all costs, which could be the reason my freezer looks like this...



That's right, just call me a milking machine. That's all the breast milk I have been saving up. It was initially for me to send to daycare but since she's not going I have a pretty hefty stash of milk in case all the cows in the panhandle die.

So, at midnight last night, while rummaging through my own personal arsenal of medications I was on the phone with one of the nurses from the nursery at the hospital. They have lactation nurses there and said to call anytime, but being so late I could only talk to the nursery. Never the less, I rattled off various drugs and she proceeded to tell me what was a Level 2, Level, 3, etc. I have an appointment with my OB on Tuesday. Hopefully she can give me something to clear this mess up, because Elise has been fussy (I don't think she feels well either) and between my sneezing and nose blowing and her crying and spitting up it makes for some exhausting days!

I'm Clearly a Rookie

It has been made very clear to me that I am no pro at shopping with a baby in tow. Picture this if you will. Elise and I head up to Amarillo last night to run a couple of Christmas errands. The first stop: Kohl's. Now, typically I park far enough away that I can get my driver's side door open and then the door that opens up from the inside to be able to maneuver the car seat out. Well, considering this insane time of year, parking far enough away to do that would be in another zip code. So, I say to myself and my little girl... to heck with it. We're parking by the front door. Mind you it is dark and this time last year a lady was kidnapped in the Kohl's parking lot. So to me, the closer to the door the safer we are.

So, I park and methodically lay out my plan of attack. I am actually able to un-click the car seat and move it from the back seat to the front console in one or two swift maneuvers while sitting in my seat. I then proceed to exit the vehicle and lug the car seat and diaper bag (that contains everything but the kitchen seat) all out the driver's side door without dinging the car next to me. One point for Mommy!

I head into the store only to find no buggys that I can set the car seat in it. Only a dinky basket on wheels. One point for Kohl's. So, I am making my way through the idiots who are completely oblivious to the fact that I am hauling around a baby and 75 lb. diaper bag... that means move people! Well, I get over to the kids clothes and make my selections. Well, I can't obviously put my unpaid merchandise in my diaper bag because a) it's freakin full and b) they will accuse me of shoplifting and a trip to the pokey isn't on my to-do list. So, I am now carrying my child in her car seat, my diaper bag, and my merchandise. Two points for Kohl's.

Well, I'm nearing the end of my browsing and wouldn't you know it... My little sweet pea decides she wants to start getting fussy. Ok, put everything down on the floor and dig for a paci... ok, I have ONE. Let's make sure this doesn't fall on the floor. Pacify my child and head for the check-out. Well, I believe in following the rules of driving while shopping. Walk on the right side and pass on the left. Well, I guess in Japan they drive on the left side of the road because I had to weave in and out of displays in the isle with all my crap while a couple had an entire conversation in Japanese while pushing their empty cart without any regard to the poor girl toting an infant, bag, clothes, and a cell phone up to her ear. You can only imagine my frustration at that point. Another point for Kohl's.

So, I get checked out and head out to the vehicle... now what am I gonna do to get all this crap in the truck without opening the extra door? I'm not. I inevitably have to open the driver's door, move over while raising and lowering the car seat to accommodate the extra door and then move back over to put her in. I'm sweating profusely by now. So, I sit in the truck to try to get my bearings. Next up, head over to Old Navy... I look inside and see NO carts so that's not gonna happen. Head over to Target. The parking lot is almost filled up to the road. Not happening either. Next stop... Chic-fil-a and we are going home!

Needless to say Kohl's won and that shopping trip was a big FAIL!

Bests of 2009

I'm jumping on the band wagon a little late and hope to finish all of these, but I'm also realistic in that it probably won't happen. I am taking part in a challenge to reminisce about my personal "bests" of 2009. There is a specific topic for each day of December, and as of today, I am 20 days behind. So, without further a due let's get to it!

Dec. 1, 2009 "Best Trip"

Because, most of the trips I made this year were to Tyler and any trip I take with my husband is always entertaining. I'm going to branch out on this one and go with the trip to Missouri. Jason and I loaded up and headed to Pampa to ride up with Daddy and Lori. We sat on the turnpike outside of Joplin for 2 hours because a semi-truck ran over a lot of cars. We literally taveled less than 5 miles in that 2 hour span. Fortunately, I was pregnant and had to stop quite frequently so we were behind the wreck and NOT IN IT! I guess that's about the only reason to be thankful for sitting in traffic.

I had not been to Missouri since the funeral of my PaPa, which was 8 years ago. It was good to see lots of family that I hadn't seen, and some who I didn't even remember. We had a family reunion in Urich and visited the gravesites of my great grandparents and my Papa. It was a bittersweet trip in that I was able to go back, but that I was expecting a baby of my own that my Papa wouldn't be here for.

December 2, 2009 "Restraunt Moment"

One that sticks out, was in Tyler at Outback. Jason, Lori, and I met my mom and a couple of her friends for dinner. Can we say "My two moms?"


December 3, 2009 "Best Article"

I'm sure something related to pregnancy or babies, but nothing special is coming to mind.

December 4, 2009 "Best Book"

Since I found out in March that I was pregnant, all I read all year was books about pregnancy. Lori bought a book for me that some celebs swear by that was written by a midwife. It definitely touched me in a less than sentimental way. It was all about giving birth with little to no medical intervention. The midwives suggested the women in labor hike through the woods to perpetuate it. And the pictures in the book, were pictures of cavewomen giving birth... as in before the invention of the razor, or scissors for that matter.

December 5, 2009 "Night Out"

Oh, how I wish I would have done my personal bests of 2006 or 2007. I wasn't as boring back then. Because most of my nights out consist of Jason & I going to eat Mexican food, joining my co-workers and their spouses at the Japanese Steakhouse was really fun.

December 6, 2009 "Workshop"

Definitely going to our pre-natal/child birth classes. They were really entertaining!

December 7, 2009 "Blog Find of the Year"

While I always enjoy reading blogs from my family, I am always left entertained and wanting more from "Heir to Blair." A blog about motherhood, from someone I don't even know!

December 8, 2009 "Moment of Peace"

The baths I took nearly every night when I got home from work towards the end of my pregnancy.
December 9, 2009 "Challenge"

Clearly birthing a child. Enough said.

December 10, 2009 "Album of the Year"

I'm on the fence.

December 11, 2009 "Change to the Place I Live"

Most definitely Elise's Room. It might be my favorite place in the whole house.


I guess I will have to work on this more later, hopefully it will be completed before 2010!

Elise & Her New Friend, Scout

We made the trip to Lubbock on Wednesday to meet Elise's new friend, Scout. As usual we got a little bit of late start. I have to do everything on Elise's schedule. No matter how far ahead of time I get ready something always happens that delays us. We got to Ryon & Alexis's house, did a quick diaper change, then Alexis, Scout, Elise and I headed to grab some lunch. The girls did pretty good throughout lunch. Elise started getting fussy & hungry towards the end so I had to hold her and try to eat without dropping my lunch all over her hair and face. I kind of just gave up on eating towards the end. Alexis & I had to feed the babies so we each sat in our trucks in the parking lot to feed them. We went to a couple of stores to do a little shopping. If it wasn't one baby needing to be fed, it was a diaper change. But overall it was a successful trip. I'm looking forward to seeing them interact together once they get a little bigger. They are only about 3 weeks apart. I took a few pictures, but Scout definitely wasn't into having her picture taken.

Christmas Party Pictures

What's New With Us

My little sweetie is "lounging" in her bathrobe on her tummy on a towel with the bottom of the robe pulled up over her back in an attempt to air out her little butt. I am hoping the air will help her poor little blistered butt. So, while she is laying contently sucking her paci, I thought I would attempt to blog about what's going on with us.

Prior to lounging around semi-naked, I had Elise in the shower with me. She absolutely, positively loves her bath time and all things water! Whether in her own little bathtub in the sink, in the bathtub or shower with her mommy, or sitting on a towel in the sink at Grandpa & Nana's, bath time is definitely one of her favorite times of day.

First Bath at the Hospital

Next Monday I am going back to work. However, Jason and I have decided that I will give them my notice when I go back and will stay at home with Elise for a while. I am very relieved that we won't be taking her to daycare while she is so small. When I took her to her doctor a couple weeks ago, I had to have a paper signed by the doctor stating she was cleared to go to daycare. Well, the nurses made a big deal about her going before having her 2 month shots which she won't get until the first part of January. The nurses told me about all the things that would happen if she were to start running a fever from being at daycare including an immediate spinal tap. They asked me if I had any alternatives to taking her to daycare so early. Now that won't be an issue. We will of course have to make some sacrifices, but it will be worth it.

Tomorrow Elise and I are going to Lubbock to see our old neighbors. Alexis had her little girl, Scout on November 12. One day after my original due date. Tomorrow will be our first time to meet her. It will be nice for us to get out of the house for a day. It has been so cold here, I haven't bothered getting out much. Before it got so cold, I was taking Elise for walks in her stroller around the neighborhood. Maybe I'll have to join the marathon moms at the mall that I have seen pushing their strollers at high rates of speed. But then again, I probably couldn't keep up with them. It's hard to window shop walking that fast. Jason probably wouldn't want me up there too often anyway, as it could be detrimental to the checking account. The hospital I delivered at offers a Breastfeeding Support group that meets one Tuesday each month. It's an opportunity to meet other mom's, weigh your baby, and get any advice and share experiences. I missed the November one, but the next one is next Tuesday and I think I may go and see what it's all about.

This Friday is Jason's Christmas Party so Lori is coming over to babysit and then again the following Friday for my Christmas party... that is of course if they still let me come.

Looks like the little peanut is waking up, which is probably good so she will sleep tonight. Her butt's probably cold too. I hope to keep my blog updated regularly so check back often for the latest on Elise!

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

Sorry for the lack of updates! As you can imagine it takes me 12 times as long to do just one thing with a new baby than before. Just imagine the chaos that ensues when the three of us have to get ready to be some where at a specific time!

Elise has been to the doctor 2 times the last 2 weeks for a diaper rash. We have been worried about it and feel bad for her. It looks like it hurts. She had been really fussy - which I have contributed to her blistered rear end. Her doctor said her poop has a lot of acid in it and that it actually looks good compared to some she has seen. We have been frosting her butt like crazy with ointment in an attempt to heal it.

Her clothes are starting to fit, but she is going to be too long for some of her little onesies that have the feet in them. She hates having her clothes changed, which is a shame because we inevitably go through an average of 3 outfits a day due to poop, pee, and/or spit up. She is starting to sleep longer throughout the night and is becoming more responsive to us. Jason kissed her "bye" today and she just kinda grinned at him. She smiled every time he did it, probably because his face tickles!

During our downtime today I decided to dress her in her Christmas outfit that her Nana got her. It's still a little big and I don't think she thought much of it. Needless to say, the pictures will speak volumes. She cried almost as much as she did when we took her to have her professional pictures taken. I'm trying to get her modeling career started early, but she has other ideas. And they include peeing and pooping all over her Mommy at her newborn photo shoot. As you will see below we started out just fine because she was being held. As soon as I set her down it's nothing but crying. She literally has to be held all the time!

And now it's time for a shirt change. It appears she might have over indulged herself earlier at her last feeding.

Unfortunately the tights Meme got her do not fit yet and she had a massive crying fit when I put them on her.

Babies Don't Keep

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust, go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.

~Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

I wish Jason would let me quit my job so I could stay home with my sweet little baby while she is still just that! She grows and changes everyday and unfortunately the ladies at the daycare will spend the days with her instead of her mommy in just a few short weeks. They will hear her little sounds and see the funny faces she makes when it should be me while she is still so tiny. Jason may find himself taking her there every morning because I don't know if I can bring myself to do it!

If only I could just win the lottery while I'm waiting on the Publisher's Clearing House to knock on my door. That would actually be one knock or doorbell ring I would welcome, unlike all the others from children and delivery men that drive my dogs bananas and interrupt our nap times! I have always appreciated my mailman, but on several occasions he has left packages on my doorstep and in our lawn chairs on the porch and has NOT rang the doorbell and for that I thank him!

Well, blogging will have to wait for now because babies don't keep and I'm going to hold mine while I can!

A Night Out....

Jason and I took our first outing solo last Thursday night. Meme kept Elise while he and I went out to eat with John and Lucy for my birthday. We were gone only a couple short hours, but missed her so much! These are a few pictures from our night out...





Elise is going to take her first trip tomorrow to Pampa. She and I are going over and spending the night with her Grandpa and Nana. Her Grandpa hasn't seen her since she was almost a week old and is having withdrawals. My challenge is going to be figuring out what to pack for her and how many diapers? I almost need all the clothes that fit her (which isn't many) because she dirties up clothes just as fast as she dirties diapers. She grows and changes everyday and is starting to show a little bit of personality!

Our weather is changing... a cold front is moving in tonight. The high tomorrow is only supposed to be in the 40's. Brrr....... cold weather is not my cup of tea! Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Two Week Check Up

Meme came in on Sunday and has been staying to help with Elise. She, Jason, and I went up to Amarillo this morning for Elise's 2 week check up. Her pediatrician is in Italy for a Harvard pediatric study, so we saw her fill in. Elise weighed in at 7lbs and is now 20 in. long. She was 6lbs. 2 oz at her weight check a week after she was born, so she's doing really good! After we got in the exam room and got her undressed, we had to walk her down to the scale. Jason was holding her and she spit up her entire bottle ALL OVER her neck, belly, back, and her daddy. It took a whole receiving blanket to get that all cleaned up!

When we got home from the doctor's office, she and I got in bed and napped on and off until 2:30 today. She had to get a bath this afternoon because she smelled like sour milk.........eewww. I put a little outfit on her that actually fit pretty well!

My Sweet Little Pumpkin!

Elise is just like her Mommy, the girl loves to eat! We took her to the doctor on Monday for her weight check and she weighed in at 6lbs. 2oz. The nurse said they don't expect for them to be back up to their birth weight until 2 weeks old so she is doing great! She has her next appointment next Wednesday for her 2 week well baby check up. The 2 week appointment is on my due date, November 11!

She is really breaking Jason and me in to parenthood. A few nights ago, we were trying to get things ready to go to bed. In a matter of an hour we went through 3 diapers, 3 outfits, and 2 changing pad covers. It was one blowout after another, and her sweet little face showed that she was secretly laughing at us on the inside.

She had been fighting going to sleep the last few nights, but we had a very successful night last night. She only woke up at 1:30 this morning for an hour and then again at a little before 6am. She stayed up until Jason went to work at 8am and then went back to sleep. It was her best night since coming home.

We went on a walk around the neighborhood yesterday and again today with Daddy during his lunch hour. We are going to try to take advantage of the warm days and get outside while we still can.

John and Lucy came over on Saturday to bring her first Halloween costume outfit over. Just like all of her clothes is was a little big, but she was festive at least!

If you will notice, she is trying to nurse from her Daddy!

Our precious little girl is here!

I am going to attempt to get the details of her birth out while they are still fresh in my mind. I started having some contractions throughout the day on Sunday, October 25, 2009. They weren't regular enough to call my doctor, especially since I had an appointment on Monday. Monday morning about 6am I started having the contractions a little more frequently. I got ready and went into to work. I started timing them and they were coming about 5-7 minutes apart. They were hard to talk and breathe through so I went ahead and called the doctor's office and asked if I could come in earlier. The nurse told me to come in at 10:30am instead of at 3:15pm. I called Jason a little before 10 and told him we were going up there earlier. Jason met me at home so I could grab my hospital bag just in case. He timed the contractions all the way to Amarillo and while sitting in the waiting room. At that point they were a little closer together.

My blood pressure was a little high, probably because I was in pain. My doctor checked me and said I was still only dilated to a one, very thinned out, and confirmed that my water had broken. I don't know exactly when it broke. She sent me over to the hospital to be admitted. While I was getting hooked up and the nurses were doing all the stuff they needed to do, they were concerned about my blood pressure being so high. My doctor wanted them to get a urine sample, but I couldn't get out of bed because my water had already broken. So, my options were to get the epidural then they could get the sample from my catheter or they could straight cath me and I could wait on the epidural until I was further along. I decided to go ahead with the epidural. The anesthesiologist came in to give it, but they were still waiting on my lab work to get back. After waiting a while, they finally checked the status of it and it hadn't even been sent in yet. So, he left and had to come back a little later.

After I got the epidural, he gave me a large dose of the medicine and my blood pressure dropped to 80/40. I felt like I couldn't breathe and the baby's heart rate dropped a lot. The next thing I knew, there were about 4 or 5 nurses in, I had oxygen strapped to my face, and a different medicine into my IV to get my BP back up. I finally got stablized and feeling better. The nurses were having a hard time monitoring my contractions so they had to instert an internal monitor. It wouldn't read correctly, so after a while they decided to take it out and put a new one in as well has another internal monitor on the baby's head. The charge nurse put the new one in and more of my water bag broke. They started pitocin to get me to progress more but my body started to fight it. After they turned it off and let me rest, I was only dilated to a four at 7pm. My doctor came in around 5:30pm and said she thought it would be the middle of the night before the baby came.

The nurses went through shift change, my epidural was starting to wear off and I was very uncomfortable. I could only lay on my left side because her heart rate would drop too much when I moved to the right. I finally told my nurse I needed more meds in my epidural and I was feeling some pressure. She checked me at 9pm and said, "it's time to start pushing, we are gonna have a baby." My doctor was called, everything was set up for delivery, my Dad and Lori got back just in time. Lori and Jason stayed in the room. I pushed for less than thirty minutes and at 9:39pm Elise was born. She weighed 5lbs. 15 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long.

Every since that moment I have felt more overwhelming joy that I could just burst! She is so perfect in every little way, Jason and I are so lucky to be blessed with this tiny, perfect, miracle! I might explode with happiness!

The Waiting Continues....

No baby yet... obviously. Well, I say obviously but some guy in my office asked me the other day "you haven't had that baby yet?" Uhh, yeah I had her and then decided to put her back.

We went to visit our potential daycare on Wednesday night. It was VERY overwhelming to me. The lady was talking 90 miles an hour and kids were running around, parents were in and out, back and forth, all this while we walked through the whole place. While I would feel okay about leaving our child there I was having some major anxiety over actually having to take her to ANY daycare. I can't imagine what the day will be like when I actually have to take her and drop her off. I haven't even met her yet and am already a mess over leaving her. The director seems to run a tight ship up there which is good. They keep a total of 9 infants and the spot they have will be available on November 28. Unfortunately, if we want to take her there we will have to pay $65 a week starting on the 28th every week until we start taking her. After that it's $125 a week. Once we finally got to sit down in her office I got really uncomfortable and it must have shown because she asked me if I was okay. I had a massive contraction, broke into a sweat, and my eyes started watering. I told her I was fine... well her daughter went to get me a cold rag but I insisted I was fine. She told Jason he might want to start timing them! I got outside and cooled off. I think I must have had a contraction & panic attack combo or something! After all that... old plan is out, new plan is in! Jason needs to find a second job so I can quit mine and stay at home. The only thing is, Jason doesn't know the new plan yet... so that's on the to-do list... tell Jason about the "new child care plan."

We have finished our pre-natal classes. I'm glad we decided to take them. I thought they were very worthwhile and informative. At the last one we went over medical interventions - IV's, epidurals, C-Sections, and Episiotomies. After watching the video of the C-section and episiotomies, I told Jason he was only getting one baby out of me! I feel much more prepared after the class, so hopefully when the time comes I won't have as much fear about the labor and delivery process.

The next doctor's appointment is Monday afternoon, hopefully she will have more good news to give us!

It Won't Be Long Now...*we hope*

We got some good news today at the doctor's office. I am one centimeter dilated and seventy percent effaced. I was very happy to hear that I have started to make some progress since 5 days ago I had absolutely none. Baby's heartbeat is good, blood pressure was good, and I was down a pound. My doctor doesn't think I will make it to my estimated due date, but thinks it will be a couple more weeks. Fine with me! Dr. Appel said I have made some good progress over 5 days, so I'm looking forward to finding out what happens between now and my next appointment.

We had intended to get our car seat installed today before the doctor appointment, but when we got there, the lady wasn't there because she had a family emergency and couldn't reach Jason earlier to let us know. So, hopefully we can get her to do it next Monday while we are up there for my next appointment. We also got some good news about daycare! We have been on the waiting list which didn't have an opening for an infant until July 2010. They called today saying they would have a spot available on November 28. We are planning to go up there Wednesday to get the details and see what we need to do to save our spot! Aside from not being able to get our car seat installed and inspected we got some pretty good news today!

Batteries & Baby Not Included

Well, it's all assembled... Swing, Pack N' Play, Stroller. We are having a lady at the hospital install our car seat tomorrow before the doctor's appointment. Now, all we need is a stock pile of D Batteries and a baby. Oh yeah, and a few thousand more square feet and a larger vehicle to accommodate all the accessories and necessities that a baby requires!!! They don't tell you that in pre-natal class...

Dear Swollen, Puffy Face...

I hope the extra three chins you have grown over the last month disappear just as quickly as they have arrived. With any luck, they will melt off with every push that it takes to get the baby out. Let's hope that all the extra water weight that has accumulated in other various body parts including the feet, fingers, and EARS does the same. Just look forward to the day when the baby is here and you feel as skinny as a Ralph Lauren model! The end is near....

36 Weeks & 2 Days Pregnant