Once again, I come back here just to try to figure out what to do with AJ and her sleeping issues.
How does one decide when a battle is worth fighting, or when to surrender for now, regroup and try again later?
AJ still wakes up. She still yells, cries, pleads. All she wants really is to sleep on the couch. If we fight the battle, she will wake up 1-6 times a night, no one in the house gets a decent night sleep and is therefore worse of the following day. AJ will also be up for the day by 5AM, at the latest. If we give in, and move her to the couch. She sleeps! She sleeps almost uninterrupted until around 6AM, sometimes later. M or I sleep on the couch with her too though, but it's a quiet
So, the path to a good night sleep is to let her sleep on the couch. The question then becomes, is sleep of any form more important than good sleeping habits?
We were really hoping to get AJ in a good sleeping situation before the new baby comes along, but it looks like once again, our plans are laughed at, and new resolutions need to be found.
Showing posts with label AJ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AJ. Show all posts
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
The Sleep Wars, part 4
We were on a roll. We had a routine that, although not ideal, was working and we were all sleeping.
DAMN YOU, TWO YEAR MOLARS!!!
AJ fell asleep at 9, woke up at 9:30 screaming. She was screaming for her blanket (which was on her), screaming for her doggie (which she was laying on), screaming for her milk (which she was holding). Just plain screaming, then she fell asleep again. Restless, whimpering sleep when she is sleeping, screaming when she's not. Oh what fun.
Now for coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I'm sorry baby Cori for any jolt you may get from my caffine consumption today, but it's the only way to make it through work. So tired, I was already half out of the house when M reminded me putting shoes on would be a good idea. Days like this make me happy I don't have a really important job.
DAMN YOU, TWO YEAR MOLARS!!!
AJ fell asleep at 9, woke up at 9:30 screaming. She was screaming for her blanket (which was on her), screaming for her doggie (which she was laying on), screaming for her milk (which she was holding). Just plain screaming, then she fell asleep again. Restless, whimpering sleep when she is sleeping, screaming when she's not. Oh what fun.
Now for coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. I'm sorry baby Cori for any jolt you may get from my caffine consumption today, but it's the only way to make it through work. So tired, I was already half out of the house when M reminded me putting shoes on would be a good idea. Days like this make me happy I don't have a really important job.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Sleep Wars, part 3
Sleep = 1, AJ = 0
I am shocked, amazed, dumfounded and just plain relieved. AJ fought sleep and sleep won! It took about a week, with the few setbacks in part 2. M still asks silly questions "Are we moving AJ to her bed or leaving her on the couch?" being a repeated one. I still can't figure out the reasoning behind that one, but at least he's asking so I can tell him NO!!!! We're not leaving her on the couch, we're putting her in her bed, in her room, alone.
We put her in her bed. She wakes up and cries. We talk to her until she calms down about how she needs to stay in her room and sleep, and we sleep in our room. She calms down. We walk out. She takes everything off her bed and piles it up by the gate. She beds down there and stays, quietly sleeping until 5-6AM (which, saidly is the same time she normally stays in bed).
Ahhh sweet relief.
I am shocked, amazed, dumfounded and just plain relieved. AJ fought sleep and sleep won! It took about a week, with the few setbacks in part 2. M still asks silly questions "Are we moving AJ to her bed or leaving her on the couch?" being a repeated one. I still can't figure out the reasoning behind that one, but at least he's asking so I can tell him NO!!!! We're not leaving her on the couch, we're putting her in her bed, in her room, alone.
We put her in her bed. She wakes up and cries. We talk to her until she calms down about how she needs to stay in her room and sleep, and we sleep in our room. She calms down. We walk out. She takes everything off her bed and piles it up by the gate. She beds down there and stays, quietly sleeping until 5-6AM (which, saidly is the same time she normally stays in bed).
Ahhh sweet relief.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Sleep Wars, part 2
Night 2
Saturday night starts off much the same as Friday night. AJ falls alseep on the couch by 9 and is moved to her bed. Two hours later, she wakes.
It is a repeat of the night before. Thankfully though, this time without the horrid screams. Just normal, every day screaming, yelling and conniving to get out. Much the same pattern as the night before ensues. The only changes being this time I don't go in her room at all. The 5 minute interval is met with me telling her to go to sleep at the gate. This time also, instead of me even attempting my own bed, I just head straight for the couch.
It continues. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 then 15 repeats. This time though, it only took 1 hour and 37 minutes for her to fall asleep, at the gate with Doggie and Blanket of course, but whatever, it's improvement. She does the usual slight wake up, call for me, and falls back to sleep after I tell her to.
At 5AM she's awake again. Stands at the gate "Mama, all done". Ugh! My cue to start the day. I get her out, she uses the potty, heads to the couch. While I'm getting her the asked for juice, she falls asleep. Sadly, I'm now awake for the day, while her and M sleep for another 2 hours. At least Sam and I got a good walk in that morning. (I did let M know I was leaving and it was up to him to listen for AJ).
Night 3
Fall asleep on couch, move to bed, awake and at the gate 2 hours later. Everything follows the same as Night 2. No horrible screaming, no real screaming at all, just the yelling and trying any word she can think of to be let out of her room. This time, it only took a total of 46 minutes for silence, and asleep at the gate. I begin to think that we may be on to something here. However, it's now Monday morning and M politely informs me that I look like a zombie. Thanks for that!
Night 4
Because of M's kind comment that morning, he generously offers to take Monday night so I can get some rest. I agree of course. AJ is half his kid, so the sleep issues are half his problem. Plus, he's been home the past three nights, he knows how the routine is going. Right? Um... well
I'm not sure exactly how the night goes. I know AJ wakes up after the requisite 2 hours of sleep in her bed. I know M gets in and out of bed a lot, but honestly I'm just too tired to care.
When the alarm sounds I realize M isn't in the room. I head to the living room and find him asleep on one side of the couch and AJ asleep on the other. I wake him up for work and ask how the night went. He said okay. That she was up every two hours. Interesting, since this hasn't been her routine for the past few nights. I then ask how he handled it. He informs me that he laid down on her floor until she fell asleep then went back to bed, and kept on doing that all night long. WTF!!! Where had he been during our conversation of "we're not going to sleep on her floor anymore". Was he even there when I spent the past three nights getting up every few minutes to get her back to calm down and hopefully fall asleep on her own, alone in her room? I try not to yell. I try not to get mad. But I have to ask why? Why would you ruin the past 3 nights of work? He replies "it got her to sleep and then I could go to sleep, so what's the issue?"
In the words of Charlie Brown AAARRRRGGGGHHHH
Night 5
I get home from work yesterday and find AJ is sleeping. It's 6PM and mother in law, who watches AJ on Tuesdays informs me that she fell asleep at 3:30 and she wasn't sure if she should wake her or if she might sleep through the night. What? You mean the kid who for the past 2 years has slept more than 9 hours consecutively so few times I could count them on one hand, you think she will sleep through the night? 3:30PM-6AM. Really? I wake the monster.
Anyway... AJ finally falls asleep around 9:30PM. Not too bad considering the late nap. At 10 I go to bed. M asks if he should move her to her bed or leave her on the couch. My only response is "why?"
2 hours later, she's awake, at the gate. I start off with my usual routine outside the gate, tell her to go to sleep, yadda yadda yadda. I take one step away from her room and the screaming begins. Oh thank you M for doing things differently the night before. Now she's back to thinking she can get her way. The whole cycle has started over. I've now stopped looking at the clock for intervals. I just lay on the couch, telling her to go to sleep whenever she stops yelling long enough to take a breath, and when she seems like she needs it, go to the gate so she can see that I am really there, do care, but will not give in. It wasn't as bad as Night 1, but it wasn't good either.
I guess I'll be on sleep duty from now on. I wonder if M planned it that way?
Saturday night starts off much the same as Friday night. AJ falls alseep on the couch by 9 and is moved to her bed. Two hours later, she wakes.
It is a repeat of the night before. Thankfully though, this time without the horrid screams. Just normal, every day screaming, yelling and conniving to get out. Much the same pattern as the night before ensues. The only changes being this time I don't go in her room at all. The 5 minute interval is met with me telling her to go to sleep at the gate. This time also, instead of me even attempting my own bed, I just head straight for the couch.
It continues. 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 then 15 repeats. This time though, it only took 1 hour and 37 minutes for her to fall asleep, at the gate with Doggie and Blanket of course, but whatever, it's improvement. She does the usual slight wake up, call for me, and falls back to sleep after I tell her to.
At 5AM she's awake again. Stands at the gate "Mama, all done". Ugh! My cue to start the day. I get her out, she uses the potty, heads to the couch. While I'm getting her the asked for juice, she falls asleep. Sadly, I'm now awake for the day, while her and M sleep for another 2 hours. At least Sam and I got a good walk in that morning. (I did let M know I was leaving and it was up to him to listen for AJ).
Night 3
Fall asleep on couch, move to bed, awake and at the gate 2 hours later. Everything follows the same as Night 2. No horrible screaming, no real screaming at all, just the yelling and trying any word she can think of to be let out of her room. This time, it only took a total of 46 minutes for silence, and asleep at the gate. I begin to think that we may be on to something here. However, it's now Monday morning and M politely informs me that I look like a zombie. Thanks for that!
Night 4
Because of M's kind comment that morning, he generously offers to take Monday night so I can get some rest. I agree of course. AJ is half his kid, so the sleep issues are half his problem. Plus, he's been home the past three nights, he knows how the routine is going. Right? Um... well
I'm not sure exactly how the night goes. I know AJ wakes up after the requisite 2 hours of sleep in her bed. I know M gets in and out of bed a lot, but honestly I'm just too tired to care.
When the alarm sounds I realize M isn't in the room. I head to the living room and find him asleep on one side of the couch and AJ asleep on the other. I wake him up for work and ask how the night went. He said okay. That she was up every two hours. Interesting, since this hasn't been her routine for the past few nights. I then ask how he handled it. He informs me that he laid down on her floor until she fell asleep then went back to bed, and kept on doing that all night long. WTF!!! Where had he been during our conversation of "we're not going to sleep on her floor anymore". Was he even there when I spent the past three nights getting up every few minutes to get her back to calm down and hopefully fall asleep on her own, alone in her room? I try not to yell. I try not to get mad. But I have to ask why? Why would you ruin the past 3 nights of work? He replies "it got her to sleep and then I could go to sleep, so what's the issue?"
In the words of Charlie Brown AAARRRRGGGGHHHH
Night 5
I get home from work yesterday and find AJ is sleeping. It's 6PM and mother in law, who watches AJ on Tuesdays informs me that she fell asleep at 3:30 and she wasn't sure if she should wake her or if she might sleep through the night. What? You mean the kid who for the past 2 years has slept more than 9 hours consecutively so few times I could count them on one hand, you think she will sleep through the night? 3:30PM-6AM. Really? I wake the monster.
Anyway... AJ finally falls asleep around 9:30PM. Not too bad considering the late nap. At 10 I go to bed. M asks if he should move her to her bed or leave her on the couch. My only response is "why?"
2 hours later, she's awake, at the gate. I start off with my usual routine outside the gate, tell her to go to sleep, yadda yadda yadda. I take one step away from her room and the screaming begins. Oh thank you M for doing things differently the night before. Now she's back to thinking she can get her way. The whole cycle has started over. I've now stopped looking at the clock for intervals. I just lay on the couch, telling her to go to sleep whenever she stops yelling long enough to take a breath, and when she seems like she needs it, go to the gate so she can see that I am really there, do care, but will not give in. It wasn't as bad as Night 1, but it wasn't good either.
I guess I'll be on sleep duty from now on. I wonder if M planned it that way?
The Sleep Wars, Part 1
Night 1.
The battle between AJ, sleep and me continues. Friday I decided I had enough. No more would I sleep on AJ's floor. The belly is too big to sleep comfortably on a soft surface, so the floor is no more. Plus, there is no good reason why I should be there anymore anyway. She is fine, not sick, not teething, has had plenty of time to get used to the transition from crib to bed. It's not justifiable anymore. So, Friday...yeah
M or I, I have no idea who actually started the night off, but through one of us, AJ ended up in her bed after falling asleep on the couch. This is the usual way of things in our house, bad habit I know, but it's what has worked for 2 years, so don't fix what ain't broke, as they say.
Like clockwork, 2 hours later, around 11:30PM, AJ wakes up. She calls for Mama and heads to the baby gate that is locked at her doorway. She begins to yell for me. I get up and get AJ back to her bed. Tell her this is her room and I'm going to sleep in my room. She is adament that I should be sleeping right at the side of her bed, but I hold strong. Not this time honey.
After calming her down, I tell her I'm going back to my room. She is quiet until my head hits my pillow (how do they know that exact moment?). Calling for me again, running to the locked gate again. I get up again. This time, I don't go into her room, but stay on my side of the gate. Tell her to go to sleep, and when she stops crying I walk away and back to bed. I tell M I'm giving her 5 minutes to fight and I'll go back. So, after 5 minutes of her screaming her fool head off, I go back to my side of the gate. Repeat directions "go to sleep. You sleep here, I sleep in my room" and after the "I love you, good night", I head back to bed, telling H 7 minutes this time.
So now we're on 7 minutes of screaming. This isn't the regular I'm annoyed type scream. Oh no, not AJ, she goes full out "someone just ripped off my leg and is beating me with it" type of scream. At one point I asked M when he thought the blue lights would appear out our front door (the windows were open and since we can hear the pet bird in the apartment complex across the intersection from us, which means we have 3 neighbors even closer, they can definitely hear the screams).
After watching the clock tick by 7 minutes, I go back to the gate and repeat above procedure. Then go back to bed for another round. 9 minutes this time. Yep, same scream, same thoughts through our head. We move to 11 minutes. Instead of going back to bed I ask M if he can sleep through the fight. Of course being the man that he is, he informs me he can. Ugh! So I close the bedroom door and head to the couch, at least one of us will be rested the next day.
So where was I, oh yeah, 11 minutes and me on the couch. Finally the horrid screaming has stopped, but the fight continues.
13 minutes, then 15 minutes. Now instead of just screaming, she has gotten trickey. She starts with Mama, repeat a good 10 times. Then moves to Daddy, repeat 10 times. When niether of those requests are met with the adequate answer, i.e. something other than me telling her to go to sleep, she changes tactics. Juice, repeat 10 times. Hmm, that didn't work, how about Milk, repeat of course. Nope. Challenging, but not to be deterred, ah, now she knows, Potty, repeat. She was less than impressed when this was met with me calling back to her, you're in a diaper, no need for the potty. Foiled again.
After asking for things didn't work, and we're on the first of the 15 minute intervals she goes for obvious with "Mama, I stuck. Open it." in a very calm voice.
After the second 15 minute interval goes by and she still isn't getting what she wants, she starts another approach. It's known in our house that AJ will not sleep without Doggie (a pillow pet) and Blanket (a blanket my mother made for her before she was born). These are a given, and no matter the heat level in the house, she WILL NOT sleep without these items. So what does my little stubborn princess do? Why, throw Doggie and Blanket over the gate of course. Now she feels I need to either get them for her or let her out so she can get them herself. Ah, she's a smart cookie that's for sure.
Finally, 2 hours and 23 minutes later... silence. She has actually fallen asleep. During the night she wakes up enough to call for me, like she always did when I was sleeping on her floor, and since I was closeby in the living room still, I tell her to go back to sleep. She does!
When I walk past her room to the bathroom I see where she fell asleep. Right in front of the gate with Doggie and Blanket. It's so sad.
The battle between AJ, sleep and me continues. Friday I decided I had enough. No more would I sleep on AJ's floor. The belly is too big to sleep comfortably on a soft surface, so the floor is no more. Plus, there is no good reason why I should be there anymore anyway. She is fine, not sick, not teething, has had plenty of time to get used to the transition from crib to bed. It's not justifiable anymore. So, Friday...yeah
M or I, I have no idea who actually started the night off, but through one of us, AJ ended up in her bed after falling asleep on the couch. This is the usual way of things in our house, bad habit I know, but it's what has worked for 2 years, so don't fix what ain't broke, as they say.
Like clockwork, 2 hours later, around 11:30PM, AJ wakes up. She calls for Mama and heads to the baby gate that is locked at her doorway. She begins to yell for me. I get up and get AJ back to her bed. Tell her this is her room and I'm going to sleep in my room. She is adament that I should be sleeping right at the side of her bed, but I hold strong. Not this time honey.
After calming her down, I tell her I'm going back to my room. She is quiet until my head hits my pillow (how do they know that exact moment?). Calling for me again, running to the locked gate again. I get up again. This time, I don't go into her room, but stay on my side of the gate. Tell her to go to sleep, and when she stops crying I walk away and back to bed. I tell M I'm giving her 5 minutes to fight and I'll go back. So, after 5 minutes of her screaming her fool head off, I go back to my side of the gate. Repeat directions "go to sleep. You sleep here, I sleep in my room" and after the "I love you, good night", I head back to bed, telling H 7 minutes this time.
So now we're on 7 minutes of screaming. This isn't the regular I'm annoyed type scream. Oh no, not AJ, she goes full out "someone just ripped off my leg and is beating me with it" type of scream. At one point I asked M when he thought the blue lights would appear out our front door (the windows were open and since we can hear the pet bird in the apartment complex across the intersection from us, which means we have 3 neighbors even closer, they can definitely hear the screams).
After watching the clock tick by 7 minutes, I go back to the gate and repeat above procedure. Then go back to bed for another round. 9 minutes this time. Yep, same scream, same thoughts through our head. We move to 11 minutes. Instead of going back to bed I ask M if he can sleep through the fight. Of course being the man that he is, he informs me he can. Ugh! So I close the bedroom door and head to the couch, at least one of us will be rested the next day.
So where was I, oh yeah, 11 minutes and me on the couch. Finally the horrid screaming has stopped, but the fight continues.
13 minutes, then 15 minutes. Now instead of just screaming, she has gotten trickey. She starts with Mama, repeat a good 10 times. Then moves to Daddy, repeat 10 times. When niether of those requests are met with the adequate answer, i.e. something other than me telling her to go to sleep, she changes tactics. Juice, repeat 10 times. Hmm, that didn't work, how about Milk, repeat of course. Nope. Challenging, but not to be deterred, ah, now she knows, Potty, repeat. She was less than impressed when this was met with me calling back to her, you're in a diaper, no need for the potty. Foiled again.
After asking for things didn't work, and we're on the first of the 15 minute intervals she goes for obvious with "Mama, I stuck. Open it." in a very calm voice.
After the second 15 minute interval goes by and she still isn't getting what she wants, she starts another approach. It's known in our house that AJ will not sleep without Doggie (a pillow pet) and Blanket (a blanket my mother made for her before she was born). These are a given, and no matter the heat level in the house, she WILL NOT sleep without these items. So what does my little stubborn princess do? Why, throw Doggie and Blanket over the gate of course. Now she feels I need to either get them for her or let her out so she can get them herself. Ah, she's a smart cookie that's for sure.
Finally, 2 hours and 23 minutes later... silence. She has actually fallen asleep. During the night she wakes up enough to call for me, like she always did when I was sleeping on her floor, and since I was closeby in the living room still, I tell her to go back to sleep. She does!
When I walk past her room to the bathroom I see where she fell asleep. Right in front of the gate with Doggie and Blanket. It's so sad.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Spoiled?
I swear I'm not one of those parents. You know, the one who will get their child everything and anything they ask for. I actually don't buy AJ much at all. I think I've bought maybe 15 outfits for her, and although I am one to give in to an impulse buy at the store here and there, it's never for a big ticket item. Those are reserved for Christmas and birthdays. So how did I get in the predicament that I have no idea what to get my child for her upcoming birthday?
She seriously lacks for nothing. She has toys galore, bags of clothes, a bookshelf stuffed full. She has a bike, a scooter, a laptop, a camera, heck the dog has even basically become hers. What else could this little person need?
Thanks to the enormous generosity of some great friends and family we have been able to get hand-me-downs from four different families. I am so truly blessed to have these people and these things as it has been such a help. However, I feel like I should give my daughter something for her birthday. But what? I have been racking my brain trying to think of what to do, but have not been able to come up with one good idea.
So, those few who read this... any thoughts?
She seriously lacks for nothing. She has toys galore, bags of clothes, a bookshelf stuffed full. She has a bike, a scooter, a laptop, a camera, heck the dog has even basically become hers. What else could this little person need?
Thanks to the enormous generosity of some great friends and family we have been able to get hand-me-downs from four different families. I am so truly blessed to have these people and these things as it has been such a help. However, I feel like I should give my daughter something for her birthday. But what? I have been racking my brain trying to think of what to do, but have not been able to come up with one good idea.
So, those few who read this... any thoughts?
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Prove me wrong
I posted earlier about turning AJ's crib into a toddler bed. M and I decided to do it on Friday so we'd have a few days free from obligations requiring high funtioning. We were both counting on some rough nights, and probably figured I'd be sleeping on her floor again. I asked some friends before the switch for advice, I wanted to be fully prepared for what we were about to go through.
Background: AJ is a horrible sleeper. Since the day she came home from the hospital she has fought sleep. Getting her to sleep in a crib was rough. Having her take naps was insane. Every person we came into contact with who had a kid has tried to help with advice or the one I love "give her to me, I'll get her to sleep" and all have failed. She just hates to sleep.
So, M and I were ready for a long haul. We changed over her bed. She played in there for maybe half an hour and moved on. We did the bedtime routine just like normal. However for us, the bedtime routine is quiet time in the living room with her favorite comfort things until she falls asleep or 9PM. Which ever comes first. She fell asleep, and M moved her into her room. I was up most of the night anticipating her.
At 3:30AM I hear a thud and then a cry. I rush into her room ready for her to fight me to put her back to bed. I pick her up, get her tucked in again, and she's out. Yay! Beginners luck though, it has to be.
Nope. The next night, she wakes up once because her beloved Doggie fell out of bed and she couldn't find it. I go in, give her Doggie back and she's out again. This is even with a rough night of coughing due to a lovely summer cold.
Since that second night, we haven't had to go in at all. I'm so excited.
Background: AJ is a horrible sleeper. Since the day she came home from the hospital she has fought sleep. Getting her to sleep in a crib was rough. Having her take naps was insane. Every person we came into contact with who had a kid has tried to help with advice or the one I love "give her to me, I'll get her to sleep" and all have failed. She just hates to sleep.
So, M and I were ready for a long haul. We changed over her bed. She played in there for maybe half an hour and moved on. We did the bedtime routine just like normal. However for us, the bedtime routine is quiet time in the living room with her favorite comfort things until she falls asleep or 9PM. Which ever comes first. She fell asleep, and M moved her into her room. I was up most of the night anticipating her.
At 3:30AM I hear a thud and then a cry. I rush into her room ready for her to fight me to put her back to bed. I pick her up, get her tucked in again, and she's out. Yay! Beginners luck though, it has to be.
Nope. The next night, she wakes up once because her beloved Doggie fell out of bed and she couldn't find it. I go in, give her Doggie back and she's out again. This is even with a rough night of coughing due to a lovely summer cold.
Since that second night, we haven't had to go in at all. I'm so excited.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Are we ready for this?
This is what M and I did to AJ's bed tonight. We have decided it's time for another challenge. Bedtime was getting too easy, so we figured we'd take the kid that hates to sleep and remove the cage. Oh, this should be fun.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Sundae Sunday
For AJ's first birthday we did a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. Since it was her first, we went all out. We rented out the church hall, set up a photo slideshow and invited close to 100 people (we only invited family, we have big families).
This year it will be just immediate family, which for most would be a small gathering. For us, that still means over 30 people. So a theme is requried. My sister-in-law is an amazing party thrower. I can remember each year of her kids by the theme of the party. I want AJ to have the same, or at least I want to feel the same for her. I had a great (I thought) idea of Candy Land. Cute candies, lots of color, sugar and fun. One big problem... AJ isn't a big candy fan. Hmmm. How about cupcakes? Lots of choices, combos and fun for me. I love the idea, and will still use some cupcakes, however... AJ isn't a fan of cake. Yep, I got one of those odities as a child, one who prefers crackers to sweets. How is a baker to deal with this?
Find the one sweet she actually likes. ICE CREAM!!!
AJ's birthday is on a Sunday this year, so we will be having a Sundae Sunday. I'm super excited to figure out toppings for our ice cream shmorgasbord. There's a place I grew up going to that has a huge ice cream buffet. M and I brought AJ there last fall, and she loved it. So many options, each bite could be different. Yay!
I still plan on making cupcakes, maybe just two kinds though. Some people (read: me) will want cake too at a birthday party, so there will be cupcakes decorated like... you guessed it. Sundaes.
I am super excited to start thinking and planning, and try to ignore the difficult part that my little baby will officially enter the Terrible Twos.
This year it will be just immediate family, which for most would be a small gathering. For us, that still means over 30 people. So a theme is requried. My sister-in-law is an amazing party thrower. I can remember each year of her kids by the theme of the party. I want AJ to have the same, or at least I want to feel the same for her. I had a great (I thought) idea of Candy Land. Cute candies, lots of color, sugar and fun. One big problem... AJ isn't a big candy fan. Hmmm. How about cupcakes? Lots of choices, combos and fun for me. I love the idea, and will still use some cupcakes, however... AJ isn't a fan of cake. Yep, I got one of those odities as a child, one who prefers crackers to sweets. How is a baker to deal with this?
Find the one sweet she actually likes. ICE CREAM!!!
AJ's birthday is on a Sunday this year, so we will be having a Sundae Sunday. I'm super excited to figure out toppings for our ice cream shmorgasbord. There's a place I grew up going to that has a huge ice cream buffet. M and I brought AJ there last fall, and she loved it. So many options, each bite could be different. Yay!
I still plan on making cupcakes, maybe just two kinds though. Some people (read: me) will want cake too at a birthday party, so there will be cupcakes decorated like... you guessed it. Sundaes.
I am super excited to start thinking and planning, and try to ignore the difficult part that my little baby will officially enter the Terrible Twos.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Telling Secrets
I have never been a fan of secrets. Until now. AJ is into whispering jibberish into my ear. It is seriously one of the cutest, most awesome things I've heard from her (aside from the "I you" she used to say in response to me telling her I love you). I love this kid! She makes me smile all the time.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Pure Joy
Yesterday my mother and I took AJ to the mall. I wanted to get her new shoes for spring/summer, but we went into the Disney Store first. O.M.G (and I never use those letters like that). There was no other description for the sheer excitement she displayed. She literally screamed and shook at the sight of the figures on the ceiling. She was running around the whole store and I think she hugged and kissed each and every Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto in the place. She hugged Manny, she carried Perry and Phinneas around until she found Minnie cups and tried to feed a stuffed Donald with the cup. It was truly the most amazing thing to see. All of her morning show friends were in the place and she was in heaven. I wish there was a way to bottle that sight and feeling to keep forever.
Infected
This is mainly for my records, and to jog my memory should it happen again.
For the past two months AJ has been sick. She has been coughing, congested, and just plain cranky. Mid-February we went to her 18 month well visit. Her doctor said she probably either just had a few colds back to back or it could be allergies. He told us to try a vaporizer in her room (we were already doing this) and give her Zyrtek in case it could be allergies. In true Murphy's Law, AJ didn't cough or sniffle once until he left the room at the end of the appointment. He did say her eyes looked a little pink, so if it got worse, we should call back for Pink Eye drops, especially since I was told it is part of the daycare petri dish at that point. A day after the appointment we had to call for drops.
The cough continued. The congestion continued. The meds didn't seem to do much of anything. Some days it would be less than other, but it was always there, the congestion, the coughing, the crankiness. We had lots of theories during that time; a really bad cold, more molars, change in weather, allergies, genetic abnormalities, and just plain toddler-hood.
Daycare issued new rules to deal with the rampant illnesses in the room. No toddler was allowed in with a runny nose, cough, temperature of any sort even low grade, and all the other bad symptoms of course. We were worried. AJ's nose runs like that's its job. So Wednesday morning came and I had my cell in my pocket all day expecting a call. I figured she'd had it for so long now, she couldn't possibly still be contageous. Wednesday was fine. I picked her up and the teacher said she had a great day, wasn't cranky at all. Woot!
Thursday was another story. She was super cranky as well as everything else she still had. Around 5 her nose started draining green. Not good! I knew she'd be going to the doctors in the morning. She got a fever that night, and was just wimpering all night. She'd wake herself up coughing and just wanted to be held. Not like her. I spent the night with her on the couch, just watching her.
Friday morning I call her doctor's office when it opened. I told them the symptoms, and they moved things around to get her right in. Not a good sign for mommy.
The nurse practitioner she went to discovered the problem(s). Double ear infection, with the right side about to burst, and a sinus infection to boot. Wow, did I feel like the most horrible mother in the world.
I know hindsight is 20/20, and boy did it suck to review the past few weeks. The worst was that she was telling us. Literally telling us. She would say "ear" and point. She is learning body parts, so I just happily said "yes honey, that's an ear. Good job". She did everything her little 19 month old self could do. Then I reviewed my pictures from the week before and found this
How did I sit behind that viewfinder and not notice this most obvious sign of distress? Ugh!
So, anyway, it's been a few days on the antibiotics and AJ is doing much better. She's back to her old self for the most part. It had been so long that I had almost forgotten what normal is for her. I'm so happy she's feeling better.
Oh, and a note to self: never, ever, ever give an antibiotic without stopping with the Miralax first. YIKES!!!
For the past two months AJ has been sick. She has been coughing, congested, and just plain cranky. Mid-February we went to her 18 month well visit. Her doctor said she probably either just had a few colds back to back or it could be allergies. He told us to try a vaporizer in her room (we were already doing this) and give her Zyrtek in case it could be allergies. In true Murphy's Law, AJ didn't cough or sniffle once until he left the room at the end of the appointment. He did say her eyes looked a little pink, so if it got worse, we should call back for Pink Eye drops, especially since I was told it is part of the daycare petri dish at that point. A day after the appointment we had to call for drops.
The cough continued. The congestion continued. The meds didn't seem to do much of anything. Some days it would be less than other, but it was always there, the congestion, the coughing, the crankiness. We had lots of theories during that time; a really bad cold, more molars, change in weather, allergies, genetic abnormalities, and just plain toddler-hood.
Daycare issued new rules to deal with the rampant illnesses in the room. No toddler was allowed in with a runny nose, cough, temperature of any sort even low grade, and all the other bad symptoms of course. We were worried. AJ's nose runs like that's its job. So Wednesday morning came and I had my cell in my pocket all day expecting a call. I figured she'd had it for so long now, she couldn't possibly still be contageous. Wednesday was fine. I picked her up and the teacher said she had a great day, wasn't cranky at all. Woot!
Thursday was another story. She was super cranky as well as everything else she still had. Around 5 her nose started draining green. Not good! I knew she'd be going to the doctors in the morning. She got a fever that night, and was just wimpering all night. She'd wake herself up coughing and just wanted to be held. Not like her. I spent the night with her on the couch, just watching her.
Friday morning I call her doctor's office when it opened. I told them the symptoms, and they moved things around to get her right in. Not a good sign for mommy.
The nurse practitioner she went to discovered the problem(s). Double ear infection, with the right side about to burst, and a sinus infection to boot. Wow, did I feel like the most horrible mother in the world.
I know hindsight is 20/20, and boy did it suck to review the past few weeks. The worst was that she was telling us. Literally telling us. She would say "ear" and point. She is learning body parts, so I just happily said "yes honey, that's an ear. Good job". She did everything her little 19 month old self could do. Then I reviewed my pictures from the week before and found this
So, anyway, it's been a few days on the antibiotics and AJ is doing much better. She's back to her old self for the most part. It had been so long that I had almost forgotten what normal is for her. I'm so happy she's feeling better.
Oh, and a note to self: never, ever, ever give an antibiotic without stopping with the Miralax first. YIKES!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
It's time
I've spent a lot of time being excited for the warmer months. Oh how I longed for the extra hours of sunshine. What I didn't anticipate was how getting to those extra hours would impact a certain little girl.
It's currently 8:30PM and she wants to play ball. WTF!?
Usually AJ is tired around 7PM and is out by 8PM. I really hope those nights come back eventually. Especially on the nights when M isn't home. Now, AJ is exhausted, cranky and clumsy, but still awake. Oh what fun.
If only these extended nights had any impact on her ability to start the day at a time even the animals think she's crazy for being awake.
How wrong would it be to put a little Benadryl in her bottle? (I kid, I think)
It's currently 8:30PM and she wants to play ball. WTF!?
Usually AJ is tired around 7PM and is out by 8PM. I really hope those nights come back eventually. Especially on the nights when M isn't home. Now, AJ is exhausted, cranky and clumsy, but still awake. Oh what fun.
If only these extended nights had any impact on her ability to start the day at a time even the animals think she's crazy for being awake.
How wrong would it be to put a little Benadryl in her bottle? (I kid, I think)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
All backed up
I am so tired of watching AJ strugle with her constipation issues. I have looked for reasons that could cause it, and I can't find anything other than what we've already tried. Her pediatrician just says that as long as the Miralax works, there's no issue. Well, Mr. Pedi isn't here when she's screaming in pain trying to do normal body functions. He doesn't see the pain in her face. He isn't around when it gets so bad she literally needs help pushing it out. I've done the poop zit pop more times than I ever wanted to do in my life. I've seen her tear anus just trying to get it out. I am at a loss as to how to help her further. She's on Miralax daily, she gets a high fiber diet, she eats lots of fruit and veggies. Some days are fine, she'll go without any trouble. Then, for no reason I can see, she'll just back up and by three days without poop, she'll be strugling and screaming all over again. I can't figure out what else to do for her. I keep saying I'm going to shop for a new pediatrician, but I'm not sure that would help. I just wish there was a place I could get answers to help my poor girl.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sick day
Not all "firsts" are fun. This is just such a story. AJ and her cousin were playing all day yesterday. Then when I got home from work, I noticed neither of them looked quite right. I couldn't place it, and since AJ had just had shots the day before I figured she was just lethargic because of that. Then the cousin threw up, all over the bathroom. I think a drop or two may have actually hit the toilet, but the rest definitely didn't. As her father was picking that mess up, I looked at AJ and prayed she wouldn't experience her first real vomit just yet. I know there's a stomach bug going around, so there was difinitely a chance of it. While I'm worrying about stuff coming out the top, I hear that more stuff is actually coming out the bottom. Gross. I clean that mess up, and in the meantime, the cousin vomits again. Fabulous, at least she hit the toilet this time. My niece and brother-in-law leave hoping to make it back to their house before she erupts again. I try to get AJ to have some dinner, which she passes on. She doesn't want a sippy or mac & cheese. Yep, something is definitely not right. Then she crawls on the couch and lays down. All on her own. I know something's coming now.
I start to play on the computer, so she crawls on my lap to play too. Thar she blows! She was so scared, not knowing what was happening. I felt so useless, I hate that feeling. I get her in the tub, set Grammy up to clean her up while I take care of the living room and myself. AJ gets in her PJs, relaxes and is fine, until Grammy tries to give her back to me. She starts crying and, yep, here comes some more. Plus a fever to really top off the night.
Thankfully the eventful portion of our night was over by then. We both slept on the couch so I could keep an eye on her and now we're taking a sick day.
I start to play on the computer, so she crawls on my lap to play too. Thar she blows! She was so scared, not knowing what was happening. I felt so useless, I hate that feeling. I get her in the tub, set Grammy up to clean her up while I take care of the living room and myself. AJ gets in her PJs, relaxes and is fine, until Grammy tries to give her back to me. She starts crying and, yep, here comes some more. Plus a fever to really top off the night.
Thankfully the eventful portion of our night was over by then. We both slept on the couch so I could keep an eye on her and now we're taking a sick day.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
15 Months
AJ had her 15 month appointment yesterday. She didn't gain much weight, but did grow another inch and a half in three months. I went to check her report printout and it measured her height in feet and inches. Seriously!? That caught me off guard. Babies are measured in inches, not feet. I guess I truly no longer have a baby on my hands.
AJ now realizes that bad things can happen at doctor's appointments. (In full disclosure though, she hadn't napped before the appointment, no matter how I tried to get her to, and fell asleep within seconds of getting in the car. After that long 5 minute drive to her appointment, she had to be woken out of sleep, so that doesn't make for a happy child.) She eyed everyone there like they were about to steal her favorite toy. She screamed during the body measuring, screamed through the weighing on the scale, screamed when the doctor tried to touch her at all, and had a complete meltdown when he attempted to remeasure her head size. After all of this, we then had to wait for AJ's three shots to be set up. Once again it took two nurses and myself to hold her down to get the shots in. The only funny part of the experience was AJ kept saying "Done" throughout the whole appointment. Now she gets to come back in another month to get the second flu shot. Should be interesting.
She is doing everything a 15 month old should be doing. She's still 90th in height 95th in head size and has now dropped to about 70th in weight. He wants to see an increase in weight by her next appointment. Oh, and he diagnosed her as having chronic constipation. I guess we'll be discussing poop frequency for many months to come.
AJ now realizes that bad things can happen at doctor's appointments. (In full disclosure though, she hadn't napped before the appointment, no matter how I tried to get her to, and fell asleep within seconds of getting in the car. After that long 5 minute drive to her appointment, she had to be woken out of sleep, so that doesn't make for a happy child.) She eyed everyone there like they were about to steal her favorite toy. She screamed during the body measuring, screamed through the weighing on the scale, screamed when the doctor tried to touch her at all, and had a complete meltdown when he attempted to remeasure her head size. After all of this, we then had to wait for AJ's three shots to be set up. Once again it took two nurses and myself to hold her down to get the shots in. The only funny part of the experience was AJ kept saying "Done" throughout the whole appointment. Now she gets to come back in another month to get the second flu shot. Should be interesting.
She is doing everything a 15 month old should be doing. She's still 90th in height 95th in head size and has now dropped to about 70th in weight. He wants to see an increase in weight by her next appointment. Oh, and he diagnosed her as having chronic constipation. I guess we'll be discussing poop frequency for many months to come.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
AJ's Birth Story
It's been bugging me for a while that I never wrote down all of the details of AJ's birth. I don't want to forget that time, so even though it's a year late, here it is.
At 40 weeks I stopped working. I couldn't handle the 50 mile commute any more. Unfortunately AJ still wasn't showing any signs of making her appearance. The whole week was forecasted to be in the upper 90s and humid. Great, just what an overly pregnant woman wants to hear. So there I sat, in the sauna that was our living room. By Wednesday I was begging M to take some vacation time early just so I'd have someone to talk to and drive me to the beautifully air conditioned mall. Anything to get relief from the boredom and heat. Just before bed Wednesday I went to the bathroom and there went the mucus plug. I'd read that although it looked like a great sign, it didn't mean much. I went to be figuring I'd be pregnant in the retirement home. Thursday I woke up with M and helped him get ready. While making his lunch I felt... something. I had no idea what it was, just something. It happens again a bit later, and I mention to M that I just don't feel right. He offers to stay home, but I tell him it's probably nothing, again, so go to work. He promises to keep his phone on him and heads out.
I kept feeling something, until the somethings start to feel more crampy. I drink water, sit on my exercise ball and play Zelda on Wii. (I downloaded the original and it is awesome). After a few hours the cramps become a bit more irritating. Not painful, just annoying. I pull up contractionmaster.com and figure for a lark I'd start to keep track. By Thursday evening I was sweating like crazy, sick of the silly game and just wanted to be done with everything. Thankfully that's when my mother came over. She comes over on Thursdays because M is at karate class so she wanted someone to be with me, just in case.
I tell her how I'm feeling and she gets excited. I try not to, and she says I need to get out of the house. We go to Applebee's for dinner. During the meal there are a few times I have to stop talking to focus on the contractions that have been increasing slowly. There still isn't any rhyme to them. We take a drive since her car has AC, and about half an hour later I tell her we need to go home. I can't handle the bumps anymore.
We wait, I still hadn't called M because nothing was moving very fast. Around 10PM M comes home and I still have the webpage up. I show him the results and how there isn't any set timing for them. He takes a shower and by the time he's out the pain has started in full force. I call the midwife and since we're an hour from the hospital, she tells us to come in. Before midnight Thursday I had my room for the duration of my stay. I was only 3cm at that point.
The nurse said I could take a hot shower if I thought it would help. I was in heaven in that tiny little stall. At least for a while. About an hour later, it was over, and I moved on. I tried every possible position I had read about. For a while the ball worked if M would push on my back during contractions for all he was worth. After the nurse found me on the floor, on all fours, rocking and crying. she offered some meds to help me sleep. All they did was make me drowsy and mad because I'd want to sleep but kept waking up. What was even worse was looking over and seeing M sleeping soundly in the chair. Ugh.
The next morning I was still only 5cm and didn't seem to be progressing very quickly. My mother and M's mother were around. We were still doing the rubbing of the back on the ball, until I gave up on that one. I was told I could use the hot tub. Big mistake. The second I got in I felt sick and the pain was unbearable. I'm not sure if it was the hot tub's fault, but I was crying to get out. (I always feel sick in hot tubs so I'm not sure why I thought this would be a good idea). As I got out I told M to find the nurse and get me an epi.
While waiting for the anesthesiologist I was laying in bed with M, my mother and his mother all still there. They had a chuck on the bed for some reason, I'm not sure why now, and I would move my feet through the pain. I ripped about 6 chucks into shreds with my heels. Finally, around 4PM I got my epi. Life was good. I was still only 7cm at that point. I wanted to try for natural, but I didn't have the strength in me to progress then have to push.
My contractions still weren't regular, so they put me on pitocin to help that part out. Around that time they broke my water hoping to get things going.
Just before 9PM the midwife checked me and said AJ was crowning. The stage was set. I was promised not much pushing would be needed since she was so close. At 9:02 I started pushing. I was staring at the clock on the wall, since the other option was the mirror at the end of the bed. Nope not looking there. I pushed, and pushed and pushed. Three pushes per contraction. At 11:52PM AJ was born. My baby was put on my chest even though we weren't breastfeeding. I got to hold her for about a minute.
They took her away to do her check, or so I thought. Turns out she was having trouble breathing. They ended up bringing her to the NICU and having x-rays/blood work/etc done. I found this out later because I was bleeding. It took 2 hours to stop my bleeding and thankfully my midwife stopped them from bringing me to the OR for a D&C. I barely notice that M is not with me the whole time. I'm too out of it to hear much. At 2AM the bleeding has almost stopped, and the nurse gets stuck with the chore of cleaning up the room. I remember seeing so much blood everywhere. I was a little scared. Then M comes in and is followed by the pediatrician on staff at the hospital. They think AJ has pneumonia. Her lungs look cloudy and they can't handle that at the NICU in the hospital. She needs to be transferred to Boston.
I cry. M cries. The nurse cleaning me up cries.
A half hour later the pediatrician comes in to say they have a transport scheduled for 5AM and walks out. M climbs into his chair-bed and falls asleep. I wanted to throw something at him. How could he sleep?
At 5AM a man and woman in blue wheel a baby transport crib into my room so I can say goodbye to AJ. I could only see her foot. Due to the blood loss, I wasn't able to sit up or even incline the bed. She had a CPAP on anyway so her face was blocked even if I could see her. I say Hi and Bye to my baby girl and watch her leave. M then grabs his keys to follow the ambulance to Boston. So by 5:10 I am alone in my room. No baby, no husband. M called my mother on the road, told her what was going on and asked her to come stay with me.
AJ was ultimately diagnosed with TTN and released from the NICU in Boston on Tuesday. M stayed with her the whole time. I had two blood transfusions and was released Sunday with strict orders not to do anything. After getting home I was too tired to ride into Boston. Monday, my mother drove us down. She hates driving in the city as much as I do, but it was worth it. I finally was able to meet my baby. She was beautiful and healthy. What more could I ask for. Then I had to leave. I had pushed myself too much already and almost passed out a few times. The next day we had plans to come down to visit again, but were informed she was going to be released that afternoon. We arrived at 10AM and find M waiting with her release paperwork. Finally, we were all headed home.
At 40 weeks I stopped working. I couldn't handle the 50 mile commute any more. Unfortunately AJ still wasn't showing any signs of making her appearance. The whole week was forecasted to be in the upper 90s and humid. Great, just what an overly pregnant woman wants to hear. So there I sat, in the sauna that was our living room. By Wednesday I was begging M to take some vacation time early just so I'd have someone to talk to and drive me to the beautifully air conditioned mall. Anything to get relief from the boredom and heat. Just before bed Wednesday I went to the bathroom and there went the mucus plug. I'd read that although it looked like a great sign, it didn't mean much. I went to be figuring I'd be pregnant in the retirement home. Thursday I woke up with M and helped him get ready. While making his lunch I felt... something. I had no idea what it was, just something. It happens again a bit later, and I mention to M that I just don't feel right. He offers to stay home, but I tell him it's probably nothing, again, so go to work. He promises to keep his phone on him and heads out.
I kept feeling something, until the somethings start to feel more crampy. I drink water, sit on my exercise ball and play Zelda on Wii. (I downloaded the original and it is awesome). After a few hours the cramps become a bit more irritating. Not painful, just annoying. I pull up contractionmaster.com and figure for a lark I'd start to keep track. By Thursday evening I was sweating like crazy, sick of the silly game and just wanted to be done with everything. Thankfully that's when my mother came over. She comes over on Thursdays because M is at karate class so she wanted someone to be with me, just in case.
I tell her how I'm feeling and she gets excited. I try not to, and she says I need to get out of the house. We go to Applebee's for dinner. During the meal there are a few times I have to stop talking to focus on the contractions that have been increasing slowly. There still isn't any rhyme to them. We take a drive since her car has AC, and about half an hour later I tell her we need to go home. I can't handle the bumps anymore.
We wait, I still hadn't called M because nothing was moving very fast. Around 10PM M comes home and I still have the webpage up. I show him the results and how there isn't any set timing for them. He takes a shower and by the time he's out the pain has started in full force. I call the midwife and since we're an hour from the hospital, she tells us to come in. Before midnight Thursday I had my room for the duration of my stay. I was only 3cm at that point.
The nurse said I could take a hot shower if I thought it would help. I was in heaven in that tiny little stall. At least for a while. About an hour later, it was over, and I moved on. I tried every possible position I had read about. For a while the ball worked if M would push on my back during contractions for all he was worth. After the nurse found me on the floor, on all fours, rocking and crying. she offered some meds to help me sleep. All they did was make me drowsy and mad because I'd want to sleep but kept waking up. What was even worse was looking over and seeing M sleeping soundly in the chair. Ugh.
The next morning I was still only 5cm and didn't seem to be progressing very quickly. My mother and M's mother were around. We were still doing the rubbing of the back on the ball, until I gave up on that one. I was told I could use the hot tub. Big mistake. The second I got in I felt sick and the pain was unbearable. I'm not sure if it was the hot tub's fault, but I was crying to get out. (I always feel sick in hot tubs so I'm not sure why I thought this would be a good idea). As I got out I told M to find the nurse and get me an epi.
While waiting for the anesthesiologist I was laying in bed with M, my mother and his mother all still there. They had a chuck on the bed for some reason, I'm not sure why now, and I would move my feet through the pain. I ripped about 6 chucks into shreds with my heels. Finally, around 4PM I got my epi. Life was good. I was still only 7cm at that point. I wanted to try for natural, but I didn't have the strength in me to progress then have to push.
My contractions still weren't regular, so they put me on pitocin to help that part out. Around that time they broke my water hoping to get things going.
Just before 9PM the midwife checked me and said AJ was crowning. The stage was set. I was promised not much pushing would be needed since she was so close. At 9:02 I started pushing. I was staring at the clock on the wall, since the other option was the mirror at the end of the bed. Nope not looking there. I pushed, and pushed and pushed. Three pushes per contraction. At 11:52PM AJ was born. My baby was put on my chest even though we weren't breastfeeding. I got to hold her for about a minute.
They took her away to do her check, or so I thought. Turns out she was having trouble breathing. They ended up bringing her to the NICU and having x-rays/blood work/etc done. I found this out later because I was bleeding. It took 2 hours to stop my bleeding and thankfully my midwife stopped them from bringing me to the OR for a D&C. I barely notice that M is not with me the whole time. I'm too out of it to hear much. At 2AM the bleeding has almost stopped, and the nurse gets stuck with the chore of cleaning up the room. I remember seeing so much blood everywhere. I was a little scared. Then M comes in and is followed by the pediatrician on staff at the hospital. They think AJ has pneumonia. Her lungs look cloudy and they can't handle that at the NICU in the hospital. She needs to be transferred to Boston.
I cry. M cries. The nurse cleaning me up cries.
A half hour later the pediatrician comes in to say they have a transport scheduled for 5AM and walks out. M climbs into his chair-bed and falls asleep. I wanted to throw something at him. How could he sleep?
At 5AM a man and woman in blue wheel a baby transport crib into my room so I can say goodbye to AJ. I could only see her foot. Due to the blood loss, I wasn't able to sit up or even incline the bed. She had a CPAP on anyway so her face was blocked even if I could see her. I say Hi and Bye to my baby girl and watch her leave. M then grabs his keys to follow the ambulance to Boston. So by 5:10 I am alone in my room. No baby, no husband. M called my mother on the road, told her what was going on and asked her to come stay with me.
AJ was ultimately diagnosed with TTN and released from the NICU in Boston on Tuesday. M stayed with her the whole time. I had two blood transfusions and was released Sunday with strict orders not to do anything. After getting home I was too tired to ride into Boston. Monday, my mother drove us down. She hates driving in the city as much as I do, but it was worth it. I finally was able to meet my baby. She was beautiful and healthy. What more could I ask for. Then I had to leave. I had pushed myself too much already and almost passed out a few times. The next day we had plans to come down to visit again, but were informed she was going to be released that afternoon. We arrived at 10AM and find M waiting with her release paperwork. Finally, we were all headed home.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Too Soon
Why do they grow up so fast? Today, I was spending time with the in-laws, who watch AJ while I'm working. I was watching my father-in-law hold AJ's hands and she was walking around the living room. I'm not ready for this! She's not even crawling yet. She's not even seven months old, it's too soon. I know she'll probably be walking before she crawls, since she has zero interest in crawling she loves to stand and jump, but this is crazy.
Yesterday we were on a playdate. There was another girl there one month younger than AJ. However if you didn't know the age difference, you'd never guess they were so close. This girl wasn't rolling, wasn't sitting and had no interest in eating real food. AJ has been doing all this for two months now. Is it just her? I know parents always think their kids are more advanced, more beautiful, more everything than any other child, but I'm starting to look at other babies her age and seeing major differences between them.
Her well-baby visit is next week, so we'll see how she measures up to the official charts.
Yesterday we were on a playdate. There was another girl there one month younger than AJ. However if you didn't know the age difference, you'd never guess they were so close. This girl wasn't rolling, wasn't sitting and had no interest in eating real food. AJ has been doing all this for two months now. Is it just her? I know parents always think their kids are more advanced, more beautiful, more everything than any other child, but I'm starting to look at other babies her age and seeing major differences between them.
Her well-baby visit is next week, so we'll see how she measures up to the official charts.
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