Carrots give me hiccups. Before my pregnancy I had never gotten hiccups in my life, but started to get them one or two at a time while pregnant.
Now, as soon as I down my first carrot, up come the hiccups!
So weird!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Samantha's GI Appointment
Samantha had her GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) check-up today with Dr. Cornfeld up in DC. First, the important details:
Stats
**Weight - 15lbs&14oz.
**Height - 26.3"
Percentiles
**Weight - 25% (again *sigh*
**Height - Around 30%
Her height has not changed since February. Babies are supposed to grow about two inches between four and six months. Why is she not growing? We're not giving her coffee!
Dr.C was very happy to see her as he has not seen her since December. He loves her and calls her "his little peanut". We love him because a) he is the only doctor that treats us like parents and adults, b) he explains everything to us in detail and never leaves parts out like some of her doctors do, and c) he is funny, caring, understanding and extremely smart.
He wants to start weaning her off Elecare (hypoallergenic, free amino acids, no milk or cow proteins; so it's basically just vitamins) and onto regular formula so that her stomach can learn to digest better. Elecare simply absorbs into her system without her tummy having to do much work. It is important that she gets off of it so her stomach can get stronger. This of course scares me, because I don't want her to relapse like she did when she was a newborn. I don't want to have to go into the hospital again, and it's so hard to see her in pain. Dr.C understands this and wants to begin introducing the new formula by one bottle every three days. It will give us the chance to monitor her closely and make sure there are no allergic reactions or problems with her GERD. The formula to use, he said, is anything we want but it's best to go with the cheapest. We haven't started yet but will next week. We will be reporting to him every two weeks to give him the results of her weight checks. We also have to start giving her food but must only give her pears, oatmeal, carrots or peas. Nothing else, and only once a day, a little at a time.
I am scared and anxious, but I know that we have to do what's best for Sam. We can do this.
Stats
**Weight - 15lbs&14oz.
**Height - 26.3"
Percentiles
**Weight - 25% (again *sigh*
**Height - Around 30%
Her height has not changed since February. Babies are supposed to grow about two inches between four and six months. Why is she not growing? We're not giving her coffee!
Dr.C was very happy to see her as he has not seen her since December. He loves her and calls her "his little peanut". We love him because a) he is the only doctor that treats us like parents and adults, b) he explains everything to us in detail and never leaves parts out like some of her doctors do, and c) he is funny, caring, understanding and extremely smart.
He wants to start weaning her off Elecare (hypoallergenic, free amino acids, no milk or cow proteins; so it's basically just vitamins) and onto regular formula so that her stomach can learn to digest better. Elecare simply absorbs into her system without her tummy having to do much work. It is important that she gets off of it so her stomach can get stronger. This of course scares me, because I don't want her to relapse like she did when she was a newborn. I don't want to have to go into the hospital again, and it's so hard to see her in pain. Dr.C understands this and wants to begin introducing the new formula by one bottle every three days. It will give us the chance to monitor her closely and make sure there are no allergic reactions or problems with her GERD. The formula to use, he said, is anything we want but it's best to go with the cheapest. We haven't started yet but will next week. We will be reporting to him every two weeks to give him the results of her weight checks. We also have to start giving her food but must only give her pears, oatmeal, carrots or peas. Nothing else, and only once a day, a little at a time.
I am scared and anxious, but I know that we have to do what's best for Sam. We can do this.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Baby Steps Towards Making Another Baby
Hubby and I had a discussion last night about when we want to have our next child. Now, I have read my share of infertility blogs and fully understand that sometimes when you want to have a baby doesn't exactly coincide with your body's ability to do so at the time you choose. Samantha wasn't exactly planned; We just stopped trying to not get pregnant. Make sense? "When it happens, it happens." We figured it would take awhile to get pregnant, but God had other plans (which was completely okay with us!). Ever since I was a young teen, I always had this fear that something was wrong with me and I would not be able to get pregnant. My fear was based on a) my long-life dreams of wanting my own children, and b) all the stories of infertile women I had heard or read about. Whether it was couples who had to try for three years, the woman with ovarian cancer, or the couple with multiple odds against them, it all scared me. So from about age 15 until 20 when I got pregnant, I had this horrible fear. I was surprised when I got pregnant, because earlier in my life when I did not let God be present, I had situations that could have resulted in a baby, but didn't. I now understand why; it was by the grace of God that I had my first pregnancy with my husband, my soulmate. God stood by my side even when I turned away from Him, and he protected me from instances that would have surely ruined my life. Then He gave Ryan and I the gift of a beautiful girl who would change both our lives forever. I am closer to God because of Samantha, my miracle. In her I discovered that all things are possible. Little by little, Ryan is starting to rely more on God as well.
I digress.
We started to discuss just how far apart we'd like the first and second child to be. Ryan said something that completely shocked me: "God will decide when it's time." or something to the effect. It surprised me because Ryan doesn't use "God" in any of his daily terminology and he certainly doesn't say something regarding religion that makes sense. It means he's making an effort towards knowing God as well as understanding how much He means in my life.
Of course, I told Ryan that in order for God to decide the timing of our newest arrival, we had to stop hindering it with birth control. "Oh yeah" Ryan said. He's so cute sometimes. He also mentioned that 18 months would be a good buffer between Samantha and her younger sibling. That would be great except for the fact that we'd have have to start trying in a month or two! I have to get off certain meds, get my back stronger, lose some weight, and then we can start trying.
Either way, I'd say there's a great possibility we'll be starting to try again late this year!
I digress.
We started to discuss just how far apart we'd like the first and second child to be. Ryan said something that completely shocked me: "God will decide when it's time." or something to the effect. It surprised me because Ryan doesn't use "God" in any of his daily terminology and he certainly doesn't say something regarding religion that makes sense. It means he's making an effort towards knowing God as well as understanding how much He means in my life.
Of course, I told Ryan that in order for God to decide the timing of our newest arrival, we had to stop hindering it with birth control. "Oh yeah" Ryan said. He's so cute sometimes. He also mentioned that 18 months would be a good buffer between Samantha and her younger sibling. That would be great except for the fact that we'd have have to start trying in a month or two! I have to get off certain meds, get my back stronger, lose some weight, and then we can start trying.
Either way, I'd say there's a great possibility we'll be starting to try again late this year!
How Fast A Year Goes By...
It was about this time last year (plus or minus a day) that we moved into our townhome on base and began our lives in Maryland.
At this time, nobody but Ryan and I knew about the baby growing inside me. We had lost Giggs on April 12th when he jumped out of our truck at the Super 8 motel and ran off into the night. Ryan didn't really have a place in his new job, and was stuck in the admin office because nobody knew what to do with him.
So much has happened since those first days.
We now have a 7 month old beautiful baby girl that everyone loves.
Giggs was found on July 27th, 2008 while I was in WA at my baby shower. He was 9lbs of skin and bones, probably just days away from death. Today he is 17lbs and happy.
Ryan is doing police training, working on patrol, is LPO of his section and works a very long and confusing schedule.
Life was so simple back then, even though I thought it was horrible since we lost our kitty just after my favorite necklace had been stolen by the Mexican housekeeper at some stupid motel in Washington DC. I hated the East Coast; the weather, bugs, people, everything! But I only hated it because it was different.
Now, Maryland is my home. I love mostly everything about it. It's beautiful, the weather is nice minus the humidity, the people my husband work with are amazing, and not having the daily drizzle of Seattle rain is really nice too. I still hate the bugs, and most of the people are idiots, but there is so much to learn and discover. So much of America's history is here.
Yeah, I think the next two years will be just fine. :-)
At this time, nobody but Ryan and I knew about the baby growing inside me. We had lost Giggs on April 12th when he jumped out of our truck at the Super 8 motel and ran off into the night. Ryan didn't really have a place in his new job, and was stuck in the admin office because nobody knew what to do with him.
So much has happened since those first days.
We now have a 7 month old beautiful baby girl that everyone loves.
Giggs was found on July 27th, 2008 while I was in WA at my baby shower. He was 9lbs of skin and bones, probably just days away from death. Today he is 17lbs and happy.
Ryan is doing police training, working on patrol, is LPO of his section and works a very long and confusing schedule.
Life was so simple back then, even though I thought it was horrible since we lost our kitty just after my favorite necklace had been stolen by the Mexican housekeeper at some stupid motel in Washington DC. I hated the East Coast; the weather, bugs, people, everything! But I only hated it because it was different.
Now, Maryland is my home. I love mostly everything about it. It's beautiful, the weather is nice minus the humidity, the people my husband work with are amazing, and not having the daily drizzle of Seattle rain is really nice too. I still hate the bugs, and most of the people are idiots, but there is so much to learn and discover. So much of America's history is here.
Yeah, I think the next two years will be just fine. :-)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Unavoidable Easter Post
Since everyone is posting about Easter - what it means, what they did - I feel obligated to let the world wide net know just what I did on Easter.
Nothing.
Seriously! Nothing. Ryan was at work from 0400 to 1900 so it was just S and I. We didn't do much. I was planning on taking her out for a walk at the very least bit she was very tired for some reason and spent all day sleeping, only getting up to eat a few ounces. I watched TV and tried to play with S when she was awake but she wasn't interested. We did make a little outing to the store, though. She got a penguin that's a little bit like the blow-up clown that you can punch and he just comes right back up. Her penguin is little, makes noises, and is geared for teaching babies how to crawl, sit, walk, etc. She also got a chewy ducky, sleep sack, musical Easter bear, and I think that's it. She also got a bunch of nice things from GG, Grammy and G-Pa and Grandpa and Gramma.
Sooo, that's our exciting Easter!
Nothing.
Seriously! Nothing. Ryan was at work from 0400 to 1900 so it was just S and I. We didn't do much. I was planning on taking her out for a walk at the very least bit she was very tired for some reason and spent all day sleeping, only getting up to eat a few ounces. I watched TV and tried to play with S when she was awake but she wasn't interested. We did make a little outing to the store, though. She got a penguin that's a little bit like the blow-up clown that you can punch and he just comes right back up. Her penguin is little, makes noises, and is geared for teaching babies how to crawl, sit, walk, etc. She also got a chewy ducky, sleep sack, musical Easter bear, and I think that's it. She also got a bunch of nice things from GG, Grammy and G-Pa and Grandpa and Gramma.
Sooo, that's our exciting Easter!
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
WOW
No, not WOW as in awed or surprised, but WOW as in World of Warcraft.
I hate the game for many reasons. For one, it's a stupid game that you spend hours on end just running somewhere. Second, my husband plays it (thanks to a certain sailor friend) and he sometimes will play it for 12, 14 even 16 hours. Since we've had Samantha, he hasn't had as many of those days, but today he played it for about 6 hours. Who knows if he was playing it while I was gone for a few hours. At times he pays more attention to WOW than he does to the baby and I. It's frustrating. For about three hours I'd been asking him to take Samantha downstairs so she could crawl around (my back is so messed up I can't bend down and crawl around with her, so he does) and I kept getting the same answer, "just need to finish this one thing".
*sigh*
He said he deleted it off the computer so he couldn't play it anymore. Yeah, right. Let me guess, it just hopped up into the computer and reinstalled itself and made you play it? Hmmm, ok, I see.
I hate WOW. Why can't you "WOW Heads" just play an hour or two? Why does it always have to be the good part of a day?
I didn't vote for President Obama, but I am begging him now to make WOW illegal. It wouldn't be that hard...it would actually force the unemployed and lazy to get off their asses.
Or God, please zap WOW off the Earth. I'll never ask for anything again.
Well...
...okay, that's a lie. I still want that pink pony I asked for in Second Grade.
I hate the game for many reasons. For one, it's a stupid game that you spend hours on end just running somewhere. Second, my husband plays it (thanks to a certain sailor friend) and he sometimes will play it for 12, 14 even 16 hours. Since we've had Samantha, he hasn't had as many of those days, but today he played it for about 6 hours. Who knows if he was playing it while I was gone for a few hours. At times he pays more attention to WOW than he does to the baby and I. It's frustrating. For about three hours I'd been asking him to take Samantha downstairs so she could crawl around (my back is so messed up I can't bend down and crawl around with her, so he does) and I kept getting the same answer, "just need to finish this one thing".
*sigh*
He said he deleted it off the computer so he couldn't play it anymore. Yeah, right. Let me guess, it just hopped up into the computer and reinstalled itself and made you play it? Hmmm, ok, I see.
I hate WOW. Why can't you "WOW Heads" just play an hour or two? Why does it always have to be the good part of a day?
I didn't vote for President Obama, but I am begging him now to make WOW illegal. It wouldn't be that hard...it would actually force the unemployed and lazy to get off their asses.
Or God, please zap WOW off the Earth. I'll never ask for anything again.
Well...
...okay, that's a lie. I still want that pink pony I asked for in Second Grade.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Samantha Screams
Our daughter has always know how to do an angry/in-pain/fed-up scream/cry which thanks to Prevacid she only does on occasion, but that new sound she started at the theater? It seems that she really loved that new sound and is now letting out said high-pitched squeal/scream every chance she gets. When she wakes up, she'll do the "attention" squeal; while in her bouncer it is an "excited" squeal with a smile; and if you're making her do something she doesn't want to, like nap, or trying to keep her from doing something she wants to, it's a "protest" squeal. The protest squeal is the funniest one I think because she knows she is doing it, perhaps thinking, "I am going to keep making this loud annoying sound until you do what I want". She always has that mischievous look on her face. It is too cute but not so much when you want to sleep.
Thank God for baby monitors with volume control. :-)
Thank God for baby monitors with volume control. :-)
Sunday, April 05, 2009
"Knowing" With Baby in Tow
Last night Ryan really wanted to see a movie, and as much as I wanted to stay home I gave in and decided to go with him. This of course meant that Samantha would have to come with us. We fed her, wore her out in the jumperoo (or so we thought) and were on our way.
We decided to see a movie that had been out for awhile because it isn't as packed which makes it easier for us having Sam. We chose "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage, even though I was hesitant about how it would effect a 6m old. We live in a small town with a six screen theater, rooms that only seat maybe 75, and extremely uncomfortable seats that are probably from 1940, so our choices are very limited. Seeing as how she loves to watch "NCIS" and "House", I guess I wasn't too worried. Samantha loves the TV. If it is on, she won't listen to or look at you. She hates the annoying preschool shows like "Backyardigans" and "Dora" which makes me happy. How do I know she doesn't like them? Because she gets mad and looks at me as if to say, "Mother! I do not want to watch this crap!". She loves the Disney Channel shows such as "Hannah Montana", "Suite Life" and "Wizards of Waverly Place". She also LOVES Spongebob and will talk to him all day long. Well, talk to the TV anyway. When any of these shows come on while she's in her jumperoo, she gets very excited and starts bouncing up a storm.
Back to the movie...
She did fairly well. A theater screen is a mega giant TV to a little baby, and in the beginning she was sitting on my knee, leaning on the seat in front of her, eyes fixated on the screen. It was so cute. Once I handed her to Daddy she wasn't so willing anymore. We fed her a good 8 ounces while there, and although she was very tired, she just couldn't go to sleep because God forbid she miss anything on her big, amazing TV. Towards the middle she started to let out tiny little shrieks, a sound we'd never heard before. We weren't sure if it was due to excitement or bordem, but I think she was doing it on purpose because as soon as I took her out of the theater room, she wouldn't do it. Every single time.
Eventually I just stood at the back rocking her, and whispering her favorite songs in her ears. It helped, and she stayed quiet as long as she could see the screen. I shielded her eyes from the most "inappropriate" parts, which she didn't like but as soon as I sat down in the back and sang a little louder to her, she accepted it and was fine. (By inappropriate I mean the crashing, fiery or other scenes a baby might retain and have nightmares about.) The ending was happy and serene and she was glad I let her watch it.
All in all, it wasn't too bad but I think we'll stick to just kid movies at the theater for now. Her little noises probably annoyed some of the adults which is understandable, but in a kid movie, loud and boisterous is totally appropriate and expected. Next week we'll probably take her to see "Monsters vs. Aliens" as she gets a kick out of the animated movies. Maybe we'll even take her to the "Hannah Montana" movie coming out soon. She might like that.
The movie itself was okay. I won't ruin it for any of you but the ending was disappointing as it is oh so typical and overused in my opinion.
Over the weekend at home, Ryan and I watched "Marley & Me" and "Seven Pounds". "Marley" was utterly disappointing because it turned out to be not so much a comedy as the ending was morbid, and I bawled my eyes out like a little baby. "Seven Pounds" started out confusing and we stopped with thirty minutes left to go as we were bored. After last night's movie we decided to finish those last thirty minutes and were very surprised at the ending. It all made sense and we agreed that it was a good movie.
That's all for now. I'll let you know how the next theater attempt goes.
We decided to see a movie that had been out for awhile because it isn't as packed which makes it easier for us having Sam. We chose "Knowing" with Nicholas Cage, even though I was hesitant about how it would effect a 6m old. We live in a small town with a six screen theater, rooms that only seat maybe 75, and extremely uncomfortable seats that are probably from 1940, so our choices are very limited. Seeing as how she loves to watch "NCIS" and "House", I guess I wasn't too worried. Samantha loves the TV. If it is on, she won't listen to or look at you. She hates the annoying preschool shows like "Backyardigans" and "Dora" which makes me happy. How do I know she doesn't like them? Because she gets mad and looks at me as if to say, "Mother! I do not want to watch this crap!". She loves the Disney Channel shows such as "Hannah Montana", "Suite Life" and "Wizards of Waverly Place". She also LOVES Spongebob and will talk to him all day long. Well, talk to the TV anyway. When any of these shows come on while she's in her jumperoo, she gets very excited and starts bouncing up a storm.
Back to the movie...
She did fairly well. A theater screen is a mega giant TV to a little baby, and in the beginning she was sitting on my knee, leaning on the seat in front of her, eyes fixated on the screen. It was so cute. Once I handed her to Daddy she wasn't so willing anymore. We fed her a good 8 ounces while there, and although she was very tired, she just couldn't go to sleep because God forbid she miss anything on her big, amazing TV. Towards the middle she started to let out tiny little shrieks, a sound we'd never heard before. We weren't sure if it was due to excitement or bordem, but I think she was doing it on purpose because as soon as I took her out of the theater room, she wouldn't do it. Every single time.
Eventually I just stood at the back rocking her, and whispering her favorite songs in her ears. It helped, and she stayed quiet as long as she could see the screen. I shielded her eyes from the most "inappropriate" parts, which she didn't like but as soon as I sat down in the back and sang a little louder to her, she accepted it and was fine. (By inappropriate I mean the crashing, fiery or other scenes a baby might retain and have nightmares about.) The ending was happy and serene and she was glad I let her watch it.
All in all, it wasn't too bad but I think we'll stick to just kid movies at the theater for now. Her little noises probably annoyed some of the adults which is understandable, but in a kid movie, loud and boisterous is totally appropriate and expected. Next week we'll probably take her to see "Monsters vs. Aliens" as she gets a kick out of the animated movies. Maybe we'll even take her to the "Hannah Montana" movie coming out soon. She might like that.
The movie itself was okay. I won't ruin it for any of you but the ending was disappointing as it is oh so typical and overused in my opinion.
Over the weekend at home, Ryan and I watched "Marley & Me" and "Seven Pounds". "Marley" was utterly disappointing because it turned out to be not so much a comedy as the ending was morbid, and I bawled my eyes out like a little baby. "Seven Pounds" started out confusing and we stopped with thirty minutes left to go as we were bored. After last night's movie we decided to finish those last thirty minutes and were very surprised at the ending. It all made sense and we agreed that it was a good movie.
That's all for now. I'll let you know how the next theater attempt goes.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Having a Bad Day? Just Cry.
I am having one of those days. Sick of family and friends who won't visit; sick of some saying they can't afford it and then they buy an iTouch. Sick of those who can afford it asking us to pay their way. It's not for Ryan and I; it is for our baby. She deserves family and friends. That is why I am so hurt by this.
I am angry; I know I need to consult the big guy on this one but I don't want to. So for now, I'll just cry.
I am angry; I know I need to consult the big guy on this one but I don't want to. So for now, I'll just cry.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Blessed
I am working on a post concerning yesterday's events, but for now I'd like to say this:
I am blessed.
For my Husband and Daughter, my family, being a Navy Wife, knowing God, for having Jeanne Hite in my life, for my house, my possessions, and everything else.
I am blessed.
I would also like to add that my daughter was wonderful yesterday. I am as proud as any mother can be. She was quiet at the service, and charmed the pants off of everyone. At the reception I can't count how many people said, "Thank you for bringing your daughter", especially Lt. Hite's mother and his wife, Jeanne.
I love my little girl.
I am blessed.
For my Husband and Daughter, my family, being a Navy Wife, knowing God, for having Jeanne Hite in my life, for my house, my possessions, and everything else.
I am blessed.
I would also like to add that my daughter was wonderful yesterday. I am as proud as any mother can be. She was quiet at the service, and charmed the pants off of everyone. At the reception I can't count how many people said, "Thank you for bringing your daughter", especially Lt. Hite's mother and his wife, Jeanne.
I love my little girl.
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