After visiting my new neice, I can honestly say I'm done.
It's been hard for me to get to this point, and though I've proclaimed it before - it really sunk in yesterday.
Yesterday I could hold a nearly three week old baby and my uterus didn't ache. For the longest time I wanted my boy to have a brother, but it just wasn't in the cards.
I love my family for what it is.
Three is enough.
"Look how low the doors are, Mom!" my boy screeched at the rest stop. Rather that tell him to stop, I make him wait so I can get a picture.
On the drive back from the inlaws, I crocheted a blanket for my new niece. Rather than just getting a picture of the blanket, I had to go for the gratuitous belly shot. Heh. It's the biggest Granny Square I've ever done.
Speaking of crocheting... Did I tell you that my sister had four weeks in the hospital? She had mom bring her stash of yarn from home...
It's hard to see but there are three blankets, a sweater, a candy corn hat, and about 20 baby hats. Some of them went to the NiCU for the itty-bitty babies.
Saturday I did a 5k with a friend. My time was 38:34 - about a 12:37 mile. Considering how long it's been since I've run, I'm pretty pleased.
Of course we had to congratulate ourselves with breakfast afterward...
Yes, that's a fried egg and sausage sandwich with a side of biscuits and gravy. Yes, it was good. Very good.
On our way out of town, I had to make a stop for the #1 thing in Isle 4.
I am a barbecue sauce snob. Fortunately my inlaws live in the midwest version of barbecue heaven. I stocked up and was amused by the sign, clearly they think barbecue sauce is #1 also.
Life is in the little things.
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Not much else. Mama and baby are doing well. As always, there is more to the story, but I'm waiting for the OK from my sister before I share it.
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Big news... My sister had her baby!
After four weeks in the hospital, one amnio, countess non-stress tests, and a stream of doctors and nurses she delivered a healthy baby girl this morning!
6 lbs and 12.6 ozs and 19 1/2 inches long.
She's still waiting for a name.
The baby is hanging out in the nursery for a bit getting used to her new surroundings.
Huzzah! No seizures, no ICU for my sister, no NiCU for the baby - it's a good day!
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Just a few random things:
-Talked to my sister quite a bit yesterday. She was a bit in the dumps that a)she was sick, b) she's still on bedrest in the hospital, and c)her numbers from the amnio weren't good enough on Monday to warrant the baby's delivery. Though she knows she and her wee one are where they need to be, she's allowed to get a bit pissy about it now and again. They're looking at doing another amnio on Tuesday to see if the numbers have improved. I will say that we laughed quite a bit on the phone, seeing as she had nothing better to do. Her background information can be found here.
-Thanks for all the wonderful book selections. It has been so long since I've actually taken the time to read I'm a bit out of the loop. The list is made and I'm heading to the library this morning.
-The kids get out of school 2 hours early today and then have Thursday and Friday off. We're heading to the inlaws. Seeing as the last time we were there was for our trip to Cabo San Lucas, they're getting a bit antsy for us to visit. Not sure yet what the plan is, but all will reveal itself soon enough. The best part of it is we'll be stopping by to see my sister on the way home.
-The kids love to help me cook. Usually this is quite the juggling act, but the youngest decided she'd rather play on noggin.com. What can I say? They were the best grilled cheese I've had in a long time!
Happy Hump Day!
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This week has flown by.
All is good on the homefront.
My sister is doing fine. She asked Mom to bring her yarn to work with while she waits.
The Sweet Pea:
The Daisy:
The Pansy:
Doesn't she do wonderful work?
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My mother-in-law is here for a visit. She arrived Wednesday and will be going home Saturday. It's been a really good visit. I've been keeping her busy - just dragging her along wherever I go.
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Still trying to figure out this weekend. Since the weather's been holding, I really feel like we need to do something - especially since my husband leaves Tuesday and won't be home until Sunday. It's going to be a long week.
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Have a great weekend!
Yesterday I finished the sock monkey quilt. I didn't get a ton of pictures, as my oldest wanted to get it to school and give it to her music teacher. She loves her music teacher - who just happens to be due with her first baby October 3rd. I promised her I'd get the quilt done before the baby came. Fortunately, she wasn't early.
I washed and dried it last night, and wrapped it up this morning.
Before I let it go - a quick picture:
Speaking of babies coming early... It looks like my sister will be in the hospital for the duration of her pregnancy. Right now they're hoping she'll hold out until mid-October. She's glad she's where she is - with what's going on, it could all go down hill pretty quick. Mom and Dad have taken charge of the twins when they're not with the nanny, and are relieved they don't have to keep such a close eye on their baby as well.
Which leaves me to worry about her, the baby, the twins, and my parents.
And when I worry, I like to keep busy.
Good thing I have more sock-monkey fabric. My morning worry session produced a few of these:
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My sister's in the hospital for another 24 hours (give or take) - rather than dwell on that, here are a few of the projects I've been up to.
A seasonal mat for my table:
The reverse side is pumpkins, gourds, leaves and such. I'm not one of those 'seasonal' decorators, but I like the idea on this.
AmandaJean of Crazy Mom Quilts had this great tutorial for dishcloths.
I tried a couple out.
First off, I couldn't decide between the waffle fabric ($5.99/yd) or the monk's cloth ($9.99/yd) so I bought half a yard of each. I prewashed the fabric and dried it in the dryer per her suggestion.
I've only made two, but will be making many, many more:
This morning I had a playdate with a neighbor down the street. She's nice as can be and quilts too! I very nearly got the quilting done on the sock monkey quilt.
Just a few loop-de-loo's around the outer border, then the binding!
I'm ready to have this quilt done - it's a gift for the kids' music teacher - she's due October 3rd - better get cracking!
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Here I sit, my Toddler asking about a second Pop Tart, my other two playing outside, my husband playing golf, my new fabric fluffing in the dryer. All is as it should be.
Except 200 miles away my sister is in the hospital.
Last night she 'wasn't feeling right' and went to the hospital.
Contractions.
They were able to stop them in about an hour. Give or take.
She's still there for another day or so. Steroid shots that leave her feeling like a pincushion, constant monitoring, another 24 hour pee test... As a parent, though, she'll do what she must, she'll do it with a smile. They're all small things to ensure your child's well being.
Our fingers are crossed she can hold the baby until October. That will give her a 35 week preemie, versus a 33 week preemie.
One day at a time.
Once she gets home, she'll be on bedrest. With the exception of potty breaks and a quick shower, her only goal is to rest. Our mom will make sure of that.
Me? I'm back to where I was when she had the twins so suddenly, wishing I was closer.
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The Boy is a master at asking questions. From the moment he wakes up, to his head hitting the pillow, he asks questions.
The Boy: Mom, how did Auntie's babies come out?
Me: Since Auntie was sick, they delivered them quickly through a cut in her tummy.
The Boy: Did it hurt?
Me: No, they put her to sleep with medicine.
The Boy: Oh. How did they close it?
Me: Close what...
The Boy: The cut. Was it big?
Me: With stitches. I bet if you asked, Auntie will show you her scar.
The Boy: Is that how we came out?
Me: No, you came out my vagina.
The Boy: How does it come out of your itty bitty vagina? (He's never seen it, so I don't quite know why he thinks it's itty bitty...)
Me: It stretches. Alot.
The Boy: How much?
Me: Well... (using my hands to demonstrate) from about this much, to this much.
The Boy: COOL!
Sometimes the best conversations occur in the car, you just have to be open to them.
Today, I'm thankful for my inquisitive Boy, who makes me really think about the 'why' of the answer.
Lest I be thought an inadequate mother, ignoring my child to blog... Two are at school, one is sleeping:
She fell asleep in the office at my feet. Telling me she didn't need a nap, fussing she didn't need a nap, and finally taking a nap.
My sister's babies are doing well. Very well. Growing in leaps and bounds. The eye problems are, for now, self correcting as are the heart murmurs. It's all good.
It's the mundane things. I cleaned out my purse recently. I arrived early for preschool pick up. The toddler was content with the magnadoodle in the back seat, so I took advantage of a quiet moment. Found my passport, not that it was lost. I knew exactly where it was. Just in case I want to leave the country on short notice.
Leftover ribs for lunch. They got a little dark, but were very good. I used a combination of hickory and mesquite chips with the charcoal. They were basted in a sauce of butter, worcestershire sauce, real-lemon, and salt. Mmm... Salt.
After all, it's all about the shoes...
Visited my parents, sister, and babies this weekend. All are doing well. For the most part.
Babies are off oxygen and done with IV's and left only with feeding tubes.. Just now trying to get their weight up. Did get a call tonight that the Itty Bitty Boy has a murmur in his heart. There is a hole somewhere. Apparently there is a medication to help close it up, but if it doesn't work, surgery may be necessary. We're trying not to put the cart in front of the horse, and seeing if the medication (and time) works before getting all worked up. Yea, right.
The babies are doing well with the feeding. My sister has been pumping, and keeping up with both of them.
I did take my camera and got a few more pictures Saturday afternoon. Sunday, my sister was wanting to see them so we headed off to Walgreens and printed them off. Also made her baby announcements at the same time. Of the oodles I took, there was one really, really good one.
I am thinking of asking for a new, fabulous camera for the next holiday. I am disappointed in the number that came back fuzzy. Ah well. At least there are a few good ones.
On to other news. Want to know why I'm smiling in the above picture, besides the fact that I'm holding two babies?
It seems as if this week has been a month long.
My sister was released from the hospital late yesterday afternoon. After six days. What amazes me is that she's 'well enough' to go home, but when she's at the hospital, she is supposed to ride in a wheelchair . I understand that some recovery must take place at home, that the hospital and insurance companies can not wait until she's 100%, but to send her home while they're still tweaking her blood pressure medicine, and that she must ride in a wheelchair while at the hospital? That Wednesday a snafu in her medication nearly caused her blood pressure to bottom out? That she's been showering while sitting in a special shower seat, and brushing her teeth while sitting in a chair and can barely walk from point a to b? Very curious indeed.
Yesterday my sister was, ummm, being difficult.
She wouldn't listen to mom and dad. She wouldn't listen to the nurses. She wouldn't listen to her doctor or the NICU doctors.
She was mad. mad. mad.
Mad she couldn't see the babies. Mad she wasn't supposed to sit up. Mad she needed help. Mad she wasn't supposed to have visitors.
Today. The tide has turned.
That, and the valium is out of her system.
Apparently the valium produced quite the feeling of - using her word - invincibility.
Today she knows she needs rest and not visitors. She understands that mom and dad just want to help. She can tell when she's light headed and needs help.
Her blood pressure is headed in the right direction.
Today is indeed a new day.
Yesterday was not a good day.
I have talked to more extended family in 48 hours than in the last six months.
My cell phone is snugly in my pocket or beside me, just waiting to ring.
Only two numbers matter: systolic and diastolic.
If the news had been any less positive this morning I would be driving back down.
There is a post-it on my desk with scribbled words and thoughs on how to pull this together in a nice, neat little package if only to aid in digestion.
Today has started good.
Yesterday started good as well, then quickly turned to crap.
I was wrong - the babies were born right at 30 weeks. For those of you that have had, or know, a preemie - every day counts. Every single day.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for all, for the wonderful words over the weekend. It was so nice to get up this morning and read them all.
Yesterday was a very long day. Got up early yesterday and drove down for a visit. The roads were still a little icy. I got bored counting the cars in the ditch, and just started counting semi-trailers and cars that were upside-down. Final count - 4 semi's and 13 cars upside down. It should have taken me 3 1/2 hours but took closer to 4.
I did create a little stir when I showed up. I hadn't called to let the know, only because Mom and Dad would have worried.
Got there just in time to go see the babies. Rather than walk, or even ride in a wheelchair, my sister is relegated to riding on a gurney. They're really struggling to control her blood pressure. Yesterday while I was there it was averaging around 188/102. Not good. They're still watching her for another seizure. The first one was caused by eclampsia. Thing is, my sister didn't have 'pre-eclampsia,' she had a seizure. The last thing she remembers Friday is handing off the phone and telling him to "Call 911." The police were there within in a minute, the ambulance in three.
The babies are doing what they need to - sleeping, breathing, and growing. The little girl has had a little expressed breast milk and she pooped! That first poop is pretty important. The little boy is improving steadily. We were there when the doctor made his rounds. He was pleased with the progress they are making.
Ah well, it was a good visit as much as being a helpless bystander can be 'good.' I'm glad I went.
This whole thing could still turn to crap pretty fast.
Itty Bitty Baby Boy:
Itty Bitty Baby Girl:
New Mama and Itty Bitty Baby Girl:
The Isolettes. They're sharing a room:
Got a tearful call from my mom this morning that my sister had a seizure - foaming at the mouth, loss of consciousness, etc. The babys' daddy happened to be at her house when it happened.
She was taken by ambulance to the hospital and the twins were delivered soon thereafter.
Baby Girl made her appearance at 12:25 pm. 3 pounds 7.5 ounces, 14 1/2 inches long.
Baby Boy came at 12:26. 3 pounds 7.5 ounces, 14 1/2 inches long.
The babies are in the NicU and are expected to stay 6 - 8 weeks.
My sister is in intensive care and they are watching her for another seizure. She'll probably be hospitalized for the next 4 - 7 days.
Until the weather clears, I will be unable to visit. A foot of snow here, and the roads closed between the two of us have left me in a snit. Dammitalltohell, why did we move so far from family?
Thoughts and prayers for all are appreciated.
