May 16, 2008

Mother's Day!

I know I am a bit late with this one, but it's been hard for me to find time to post. 

I hope all of you had a very nice Mother's Day and that you took the time to pamper yourself.  My morning started off with Marley coming into our room very early (forget sleeping in Mom, I'm excited!) for a family snuggle.  We took our time getting out of bed and then we went over to my parent's house, where my Dad was busy making us a Mother's Day Feast!

Softball_n_moms_day_016 I was then handed a Mimosa and went to relax on the couch when Dad brought over a nice plate of Shrimp Cocktail, mmmmm.  Softball_n_moms_day_014   Marley was the keeper of the gifts Softball_n_moms_day_013 which included a cute "MOM" craft with Marely's picture in it from Marley and a nice pair of reef sandals from Ferdie.  Nana got a nice framed picture of Miss Marley.  After our beautiful meal we chilled out and watched 27 Dresses. The movie was OK, but I was expecting more.  More what?  I don't know, just MORE!  After the movie, we did some shopping took and took a nap.  I couldn't have asked for more, it was a lovely day.

May 13, 2008

www.sickytownsuckit.com

Ya know, I really thought that since it is mid-May and all that we'd be done with the sickness and onto having summer fun! How wrong I was. I picked Maddie up from daycare on Monday and she had a little fever but no other symptoms. A day later she still has the same fever and still really no other symptoms. I'm pretty good with colds because at least you know what a cold will undoubtedly do... snot, cough, snot, cough, done but fevers I am so not good with especially when there are no other symptoms to be found. Alan stayed home with her today and I will be home with her tomorrow.

It's already been a weird week because I spent all of Monday at an offsite training. Now normally I might look forward to a day outside of the office but this particular training had me cooped up all day at some seedy ass hotel near Disneyland. The only bright spot was that there were a ton of characters (my nice way of saying duhhhhhh, some not so smart people) in the classroom and I got to attend with a fun co-worker which made it all bearable.

I spent some time on Saturday trying to get some good shots of Maddie for her Mickey/Minnie birthday party invite and the results were less than stellar. How do you all think the pissed off look would be for the invite?


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You'll all get to see the winning pic, along with the invite, once it's finished!

May 09, 2008

I think it is my turn for an update!!!

I am 25 weeks, 1 day today!!!  Only 14 weeks, 6 days to go (babies come exactly on their due date, right?) My only complaint so far--sleeping. Sleeping is getting more difficult (although, last night was GREAT!) I have a body pillow that helps a lot (it keeps me off my back and tummy) but my hips get so sore from laying on them all night.  So for the past few weeks I have been putting a smaller pillow under my hips which works well until I have to change to the other side. Here I am at 2:00 AM trying to maneuver a large body pillow, a smaller pillow for my hip and the two pillows under my head all without waking my husband.  Needless to say, I don’t do a good job of it.  Then just as I am thinking that I comfortable I realize I have to go to the bathroom (I am the person who used to NEVER get up in the middle of the night to go pee—now it happens almost every night and I know it is going to get worse) and it makes me mad.  So at this point I am up. What can I do?  I can’t turn on the TV, or turn on the light to read so I bust out my iPhone and see what is going on at 2:00 AM.  Usually not much but at least it keeps me occupied for about an hour or two until I get sleepy and fall back to sleep.  I know this is just to get me ready for when little nugget comes but let me just tell you—THIS SUCKS!!! I miss my sleep. I love my sleep.

(I know you moms are laughing right now ‘cause the worse is yet to come. I totally understand that—but can’t I just get some good sleep now????)

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the mothers!!!

Frozen Yogurt Wars

It wasn't long ago that we only had one type of frozen yogurt to choose from.  Golden Spoon was it and it was so yummy we didn't really mind.

Then one day while on a lunch outing to Chipotle we noticed a little place called Yogurt Land.  Dude.  This place was the bomb diggity.  Genius!  Self serve frozen yogurt (there are about a million flavors!) and you put all of your own toppings on yourself.  They weigh your yogurt at the cash register and you pay.

This past week I discovered that a Pinkberry opened near us so a few of us made the trek down there during lunch and oh mother this stuff is good.  The weirdest part is that I can't even explain to you what the "original" flavor tastes like other than it tastes like a little piece of heaven.  Their toppings are totally wacky but they work.  Seriously, who puts fruity pebbles on frozen yogurt?  The answer is me!  Well, now I do anyhow along with yogurt chips and fresh strawberries.  Here's what a piece of heaven looks like:

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We also have two other Frozen Yogurt shops opening up near us just in time for Summer.  What's a girl to do?

May 07, 2008

LIFE IS GREAT!!!

Thank you all so much for your prayers!  They were heard and our little guys is doing so well!

As I told you before I fell Saturday morning holding Parker.  It happened about 10am and we were being seen by a Dr around 10:30am.  Mike had us from the park to the children's hospital in about 10 minutes flat (should have taken 15-20).  It always amazes me how fast they get you in there.  Mike was still filling out the paperwork and we were inside.  He was in for a CT pretty quickly and they discovered the fractures and bleeds.  I was a mess before they told me this and I was even worse after.  I felt so bad for him and so guilty like I could have done something to prevent the fall (even though I don't know how).  They brought in the head neurosurgeon (who saw Abbie when she had her skull fracture as a baby) and he told us that we were being checked into the ICU for observation and tests.  He also took Mike out to see the films while I stayed with Parker. 

They put me on a bed (because I also popped a bone in my foot) and had me hold him through the transfer.  They got us up to the ICU, weighted him (weighs 9 pounds now by the way!), hooked up an IV, took a urine tests, took blood, hooked up a blood pressure band and a respirator and heart monitors.  he seemed to have wires and tubes everywhere.  Then it was just a a waiting game.  I sat on the couch in the room with him on my chest for 12 hours with them coming in every hour checking his vitals and his soft spots to make sure there was no brain swelling. Different Dr's came and went. We were instructed what to watch for that the monitors might not pick up or the nurses notice as we know him best.  They told us about the different types of seizures and clinical symptoms to keep an eye out for.

He pretty much just slept on me for about 12 hours straight and woke screaming the worst screams I have heard from a baby everythime he woke.  It broke my heart.

Both sets of grandparents came and Mike's sister (who was watching Abbie) brought her over to see us and Parker. Mike went home and packed us a bag and one for Abbie. I finally put him in the crib about 11:30pm and tried to get some sleep myself.  I took the couch and Mike took a pad on the ground.  I slept about 2 hours and was up for a few more and then dosed with him in my arms for a few more. 

A new round of Dr's that worked with ours came in and checked him 1st thing.  At this point he wasn't crying as much (and neither was I).  Thank God! They were all pleased with his tests and behavior.  He was eating well at this point and responding to light.    By the time our main Dr came in he was only crying when he was hungry and was spending bits of time awake and aware.  He was so pleased and at the end of the day they moved us to a regular room on the neurology floor.  More visitor from grandparents, Abbie, his Aunt Mel, Aunt Agatha, Uncle Rick and his cousin Joey.  They let us sit with him in the family lounge while the family visited.  It felt good to do something normal with him. 

In a regular room only one of us were able to stay the night, so Mike went and took Abbie home and I stayed.  Parker was up throughout the night happy and eating.  he had a great night and the Dr was so pleased when he came by the next day.  So pleased with all the tests and behavior that they sent us home.  Yeah! 

We were told that he had no swelling of the brain, only swelling of the tissue on the outside of the skull where the fractures are.  The bleeding did not progress and he had no seizures.  We were told to watch for seizures at home (even though the odds were against them happening after the first 2 days) and any regression in development or change in behavior.  And the best news... they don't feel that there will be any permanent damage.. he said that he would actually be surprised if there was.

There is nothing else to be done, except to keep an eye on him and give him time to heal.  The brain will absorb the blood in about 3 weeks and the breaks will heal in about 4-5 weeks.  Obviously we need to keep him from hitting his head while it heals.  As the swelling is going down you can feel the worse fracture where he hit the right side of the head.  It runs from the front of his head by his forehead all the way to the back.  It freaks Mike out.

We are home and settled in and getting back into a routine.  Being in the hospital turned his night sleeping around a bit so we are working in that.   

We are happy and healing!!!!  this was the scariest experience of my life.  Being a parent is so wonderful and so painful and scary at the same time.  I am so thankful to the wonderful Drs and nurses that cared for our family.  They not only genually cared for Parker, but were so kind to us. Bless them for the work they do- I don't know if I could do it.

You gals are the best!

I will post 6 week pictures on Friday.

PS.. I think we are close to getting our 1st smile and Abbie peed in the toilet this am!  LIFE IS GREAT!!!!

Skater Girl

We all knew it was bound to happen at some point, right?  Alan has been taking Maddie out on the skateboard and she LOVES it!  She loves to chase after him while he's on the skateboard and loves to ride it with him but she's too scared to just stand on it alone.

Skateboard

A few weeks ago we had my family over for a bbq to celebrate my mom's birthday.  We took a bunch of pictures that night but here's one of my favorites of my mom and stepdad. 

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I have a few other cute pictures of my sisters that I'll post at a later date.

As you can tell from our archives we've all been pretty busy and have neglected posting lately.  Work has been crazy and it seems like we've had plans every single weekend and it only stands to get busier going into summertime.  My big project has been trying to decide what we're going to do for Maddie's 2nd birthday.  As much as I loathe any type of "character" I think we've decided to throw her a Mickey and Minnie party.  The girl just goes cuckoo over anything Mickey and Minnie these days so I know she'll think it's just the coolest thing ever.  Me?  Not so much, but hey, it's totally not my birthday!  I just want her to have fun.

Mads1 Mads

May 05, 2008

Wonderful News!

Parker did so well yesterday that they moved him into a regular room.

And the best news of all?  He did so well last night that he's coming home today.

Yippie!!