Make sure you scroll down to my 2 Christmas posts below!
I have had zero time combined with zero ideas for posts leaving me blogless. But today I'm back with the update! My surgery went great--already 2 1/2 weeks ago! I've still been sore off and on, but am feeling pretty much back to normal now. Olivia is glad that I can pick her up again, and I swear she's gained 10 lbs. in the 2 weeks I was on restriction!
Remember Aidan's sleep problems? Well the day before my surgery I brought him in to the clinic and he had an ear infection. That night he only woke up once! And when he was with my mother-in-law, every night he only woke up once! Amazing! Of course as soon as he was back with me he started getting up a few more times a night again. But thankfully that only lasted a few days--he is starting to do much better!! He typically sleeps from 7 to between 3-5 am, eats, and then sleeps again until between 6 and 6:45. It's amazing what a little sleep can do for a person!!
And, speaking of Aidan, he will be turning 1 next week! WHHHAAT!
Christmas was wonderful! Busy, of course, but wonderful! We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, both split between both families. Luckily everyone was close so we didn't have to spend too much time on the roads. The kids had a blast, but were super exhausted (and still are catching up!). This week we will celebrate with Ryan's immediate family as his brother Aaron came home from Sweden yesterday...brimming with engaged bliss!
And I will leave you with an Olivia story. My potty-training princess. Or not. She SOOO wants nothing to do with toilets. But we're trying a little bit here and there. I'm barely pushing, but more making the option available and tempting her with presents. :) So, last week she wore panties all afternoon and evening--over 3 hours and no accidents at all! It was bath time and I KNEW, because I'm a smart Mom like that, that she had to pee. And I knew (once again, smart Mom) that if she hit the tub with a full bladder, well....you know. Ryan started giving Aidan his bath and we told Olivia she had to pee on the pot before she got in. Holy hysterics. Seriously, crying and screaming and tearing the potty seat off the pot for 10 minutes. You'd think we were asking her to, well I don't even know, but something terrible! Finally the phone rang, and my attention was divided. Olivia says, "Okay, I'll pee on the pot now." Puts her seat back up, climbs on, and pees instantly.
Little stinker. She totally knows what to do. Her High Stuborness just needs to make up her mind!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Climbing Christmas: Aidan Style
Trying to take a picture together...never goes well, especially now that he's a climber!
Forget the cars...he just wants to climb it.
And always climbing in his car seat! (Yes, he's still in his infant seat.)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Remembering & reliving, & rejoicing
My good friend Marci had a sweet baby girl one week ago today. This morning, since my children are still gone and her eldest was at Grandmas, I went to spend some time with her and little Gracie. I had previously brought her all my baby girl clothes (sigh), but they needed to be sorted and we also made her announcements. Through it all, I got to hold sweet baby Grace all morning. It made my uterus flutter. :) Not enough where I want to have another baby anytime soon, but made me feel a little sad for the hectic time I felt last winter.
I know I've said this before, but I was SERIOUSLY miserable being pregnant with Aidan. And I didn't help myself out trying to be more positive. I regret this SO much. Being in the field that I'm in, I can accurately say that I was probably depressed and experienced some post-partum depression too. Overall, I was fine afterwards, but I was easily brought to anger, anxiety, and sadness, more so and longer lasting than just due to all those hormones! That being said, I know I didn't cherish my time being pregnant and I don't think I fully cherished my time with Aidan as a new born.
As I thought about this time this morning, it all seemed a blur, and there wasn't a lot that I remember clearly. So I wanted to take some time today to remember those first few days with my man.
I remember stopping at Walgreens on the way home from the hospital (why? I don't know...).
I remember walking into the house and Olivia and Maren were playing a game jumping from the coffee table onto the couch.
I remember lunch being ready and the table was set...soup, bread, and bars (yum!). I had to get a pillow from the couch to sit on. :)
I remember barely sleeping a wink those first few nights and spending a lot of time sleeping on the couch, and a lot more time worrying that this would ruin him for ever sleeping on his own!
I remember our first outing as a family was to North Branch to buy myself a pair of jeans, then to McDonalds for lunch so Olivia could play...Aidan pooped EVERYWHERE. :)
I remember going to church for the first time and trying not to cry from all those hormones when they had us stand up in front of the church to show off our little man.
I remember crying when Olivia wouldn't take a nap.
And crying when I let Aidan cry to try and get Olivia to nap.
I remember snuggling with both of them on the couch and snuggling with just Aidan on the couch.
I remember being worried that I wasn't spending enough time with either of them and they would both be "ruined" because of it.
I remember being so thankful for two healthy children.
I remember regretting being so negative during my pregnancy that it had become all about being pregnant and not about my sweet baby.
I remember pumping for the first time and Olivia staring at me like I was an alien....then wanting to try it her self. :)
I remember taking Aidan to his PIP appointment and already having my "thank yous" and announcements done. :) Visiting Susan after my appointment to give her an announcement & thank you, and feeling more normal than I had felt in a long time!!
I remember taking them both to Target for the first time and felt so encouraged that I could do it all by myself!
I guess I remember more than I thought and that makes me feel so happy! I have worked so hard this (almost) year to think more positively and cherish every moment. I am so thankful for my life!
I know I've said this before, but I was SERIOUSLY miserable being pregnant with Aidan. And I didn't help myself out trying to be more positive. I regret this SO much. Being in the field that I'm in, I can accurately say that I was probably depressed and experienced some post-partum depression too. Overall, I was fine afterwards, but I was easily brought to anger, anxiety, and sadness, more so and longer lasting than just due to all those hormones! That being said, I know I didn't cherish my time being pregnant and I don't think I fully cherished my time with Aidan as a new born.
As I thought about this time this morning, it all seemed a blur, and there wasn't a lot that I remember clearly. So I wanted to take some time today to remember those first few days with my man.
I remember stopping at Walgreens on the way home from the hospital (why? I don't know...).
I remember walking into the house and Olivia and Maren were playing a game jumping from the coffee table onto the couch.
I remember lunch being ready and the table was set...soup, bread, and bars (yum!). I had to get a pillow from the couch to sit on. :)
I remember barely sleeping a wink those first few nights and spending a lot of time sleeping on the couch, and a lot more time worrying that this would ruin him for ever sleeping on his own!
I remember our first outing as a family was to North Branch to buy myself a pair of jeans, then to McDonalds for lunch so Olivia could play...Aidan pooped EVERYWHERE. :)
I remember going to church for the first time and trying not to cry from all those hormones when they had us stand up in front of the church to show off our little man.
I remember crying when Olivia wouldn't take a nap.
And crying when I let Aidan cry to try and get Olivia to nap.
I remember snuggling with both of them on the couch and snuggling with just Aidan on the couch.
I remember being worried that I wasn't spending enough time with either of them and they would both be "ruined" because of it.
I remember being so thankful for two healthy children.
I remember regretting being so negative during my pregnancy that it had become all about being pregnant and not about my sweet baby.
I remember pumping for the first time and Olivia staring at me like I was an alien....then wanting to try it her self. :)
I remember taking Aidan to his PIP appointment and already having my "thank yous" and announcements done. :) Visiting Susan after my appointment to give her an announcement & thank you, and feeling more normal than I had felt in a long time!!
I remember taking them both to Target for the first time and felt so encouraged that I could do it all by myself!
I guess I remember more than I thought and that makes me feel so happy! I have worked so hard this (almost) year to think more positively and cherish every moment. I am so thankful for my life!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Deck the Halls...
The blurry version of cutting down our tree (it was FREEZING!!)
The stockings hung by the chimney with care...
And plenty of twinkle lights for our kiddies to share!I love decorating for Christmas! Before Ryan and I were to be wed, my friends from college even through a shower for me that was a "decorating for Christmas" theme. It was so wonderful! I seriously have like 5 tubs full of decorations.
Maybe some of you dedicated readers remember Christmas for me last year...sigh. I was plagued with a negative pregnancy. I did not decorate for Christmas, not even a tree. I couldn't fathom having enough energy either to decorate or to have enough energy to take it down.
This year I was so thrilled to get our tree, put up our stockings, and our nativity scene. Our living room looks so beautiful and festive! I did scale things down a bit this year; with 2 little ones I have a lot of things that I do not want to have broken!! Our tree is adorned with only lights and beads, but it is beautiful!
Olivia is fired up for Christmas--every day she asks if she can open her presents yet... I think I'll be waiting to put them under the tree until Christmas Eve! She may not be able to handle temptation... :)
Recovery
Well, I survived. :)
I have felt so blessed because I have not been nauseous once during my whole recovery! I think I was the most scared about this before hand, because really, who wants to be puking after your abdomen has just been ripped apart! Not me! I'm a pukey, or nauseous, person too, so I am just so thankful for this!
Yesterday I was very sore and couldn't get around too well; however, today has been much much better! My mom and I even went to town to wander around Target for a little while. It felt good to get out of the house, but I sure got tired quickly.
I miss my kiddos, but I've also really enjoyed having this quiet time by myself to recover. I think I will have them come home on Tuesday, so that will be great! Thank you all for all the prayers!
I have felt so blessed because I have not been nauseous once during my whole recovery! I think I was the most scared about this before hand, because really, who wants to be puking after your abdomen has just been ripped apart! Not me! I'm a pukey, or nauseous, person too, so I am just so thankful for this!
Yesterday I was very sore and couldn't get around too well; however, today has been much much better! My mom and I even went to town to wander around Target for a little while. It felt good to get out of the house, but I sure got tired quickly.
I miss my kiddos, but I've also really enjoyed having this quiet time by myself to recover. I think I will have them come home on Tuesday, so that will be great! Thank you all for all the prayers!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Oh gall!
Well, my surgery is tomorrow. Let's hope it really happens this week! :) I'm nervous, of course, as I've never been put under before. I know I will be fine, but the unknown is always a tad nerve wracking.
Because of our complications last week, having to reschedule the whole shebang, the biggest bummer of all is that Ryan is going to be out of town. He leaves today for a business/hunting trip to South Dakota for the weekend. Now, mind all of you who are having negative thoughts towards my hubby leaving me during surgery (ahem!); he DID offer to cancel and stay back to take care of me (numerous times), but as this whole thing has been one big hullabaloo, I told him he shouldn't cancel plans. Because I'll be just fine.
Luckily, I have a great Dad who could clear his schedule to take care of his baby tomorrow. :) Thanks Rog. My Dad will be taking me to the hospital bright & early tomorrow morning (I have to be there by 7), stay with me for the day, take me home, and then is staying overnight too. My mom comes home from Guam on Saturday and will hang out/sleep off her jet lag while I sleep with me then.
Ryan's mom is taking the kiddos up to Grand Rapids for a few days so I can recover in peace. What a blessing! Can you imagine trying to rest & recover from surgery with little ones? I know some of you have probably done it, but I am so thankful for the reprieve! (And still hoping to feel good enough to get some paperwork done!!)
I'd love your prayers tomorrow morning and through the weekend for a speedy recovery! Thanks!
Because of our complications last week, having to reschedule the whole shebang, the biggest bummer of all is that Ryan is going to be out of town. He leaves today for a business/hunting trip to South Dakota for the weekend. Now, mind all of you who are having negative thoughts towards my hubby leaving me during surgery (ahem!); he DID offer to cancel and stay back to take care of me (numerous times), but as this whole thing has been one big hullabaloo, I told him he shouldn't cancel plans. Because I'll be just fine.
Luckily, I have a great Dad who could clear his schedule to take care of his baby tomorrow. :) Thanks Rog. My Dad will be taking me to the hospital bright & early tomorrow morning (I have to be there by 7), stay with me for the day, take me home, and then is staying overnight too. My mom comes home from Guam on Saturday and will hang out/sleep off her jet lag while I sleep with me then.
Ryan's mom is taking the kiddos up to Grand Rapids for a few days so I can recover in peace. What a blessing! Can you imagine trying to rest & recover from surgery with little ones? I know some of you have probably done it, but I am so thankful for the reprieve! (And still hoping to feel good enough to get some paperwork done!!)
I'd love your prayers tomorrow morning and through the weekend for a speedy recovery! Thanks!
Sunday, December 06, 2009
11 months!
My little man is 11 months old today. As I've said every month this year, "WHAT! Where did the time go??" I can hardly believe that I need to be planning his birthday bash. I'm already feeling guilty because for Olivia's 1 year birthday we had a big party with everyone in the family...I just am not up to that big celebration again. So we will improvise: 2 parties. One small party on his actual birthday, most likely with my family. A second the weekend following up at Mucka & Papa's with Ryan's side of the family. The second will be a joint party for Aidan & Raegan--her birthday is Jan. 5 (9 this year!).
I haven't updated on this, but Aidan weaned himself a few weeks ago now. So different from Olivia!! He just decided he was done one day! I had wanted to nurse him until at least 1 year (Olivia was 13 mos. and I had to wean her because we were going on vacation), but he had a different idea in mind! So we are all formula...I'm still trying to figure out this full-time bottle thing...
Sleeping? Well, maybe someday... I keep holding out hope that tonight will be the night... but it never is. Heck, I'd just take waking up just once a night! We're still on 2-3 times a night. Blah. I'm living in a constant state of overtiredness. Someday... I have a plan that we'll implement after surgery and Christmas, but for now, I will continue to be tired.
He is just the sweetest little bugger you ever did see. He's a little cuddler (again, so different from Olivia!!) and it melts me every time he nestles his little blonde head into my shoulders. He loves to play with his big sister, and is very tolerant of her frustrations with him too! Today we played hide & seek; Olivia would pick a spot and then try to get Aidan to follow her. Her latest name for him is "Booga", so she would say "Come on Booga! Come hide with me! Come on!! Hoot hoot!" (that's her "whistling") and then she would pat her leg like she was calling a dog. Seriously hilarious. And of course, here would come Booga, toddling on behind her!
Happy 11 months my little Booga man!
I haven't updated on this, but Aidan weaned himself a few weeks ago now. So different from Olivia!! He just decided he was done one day! I had wanted to nurse him until at least 1 year (Olivia was 13 mos. and I had to wean her because we were going on vacation), but he had a different idea in mind! So we are all formula...I'm still trying to figure out this full-time bottle thing...
Sleeping? Well, maybe someday... I keep holding out hope that tonight will be the night... but it never is. Heck, I'd just take waking up just once a night! We're still on 2-3 times a night. Blah. I'm living in a constant state of overtiredness. Someday... I have a plan that we'll implement after surgery and Christmas, but for now, I will continue to be tired.
He is just the sweetest little bugger you ever did see. He's a little cuddler (again, so different from Olivia!!) and it melts me every time he nestles his little blonde head into my shoulders. He loves to play with his big sister, and is very tolerant of her frustrations with him too! Today we played hide & seek; Olivia would pick a spot and then try to get Aidan to follow her. Her latest name for him is "Booga", so she would say "Come on Booga! Come hide with me! Come on!! Hoot hoot!" (that's her "whistling") and then she would pat her leg like she was calling a dog. Seriously hilarious. And of course, here would come Booga, toddling on behind her!
Happy 11 months my little Booga man!
Friday, December 04, 2009
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Surgery??? or flu?
UPDATE: I got the flu. Raunchy. Cancelled surgery and am rescheduled for next Friday. What a pain, but God has a reason, so I'm living in the reassurance that I was not supposed to have surgery today!
I need your prayers today! Ryan caught the kids flu bug (kids are feeling better), and I desperately don't want to get sick today! Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but I'll have to cancel if I am sick. I really don't want to have to do this... Please pray for my health today!! And I guess you could pray for Ryan's health too.. :)
If things go as scheduled, I am supposed to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 8:30 to be "prepped"; they didn't give a specific time for surgery but hopefully it won't be too long after I get there.
Thank you in advance for your prayers!
I need your prayers today! Ryan caught the kids flu bug (kids are feeling better), and I desperately don't want to get sick today! Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but I'll have to cancel if I am sick. I really don't want to have to do this... Please pray for my health today!! And I guess you could pray for Ryan's health too.. :)
If things go as scheduled, I am supposed to be at the hospital tomorrow morning at 8:30 to be "prepped"; they didn't give a specific time for surgery but hopefully it won't be too long after I get there.
Thank you in advance for your prayers!
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