Oops

Posted on May 28, 2012 by

Oh hey, remember me?

I’d apologize for being gone, but I’m not actually sorry.  Isn’t it epically annoying when bloggers apologize for having lives?

Anyways, I have an obvious excuse for my absence:

Hey mom, quit yer bitchin’

A certain little lady has decided the world is very interesting and actually wants to be entertained now.  Because I am the stupidest person alive, I don’t want her watching tv for a long time, so I have to constantly find new ways to keep her from being bored.  She hates the swing (this is apparently extremely rare) and the bouncer only keeps her happy for five minutes.  Mostly it’s a lot of me shaking toys at her while she looks pissed that she hasn’t figured out how to grab them yet.

That’ll teach you to complain about being bored.  And yes, I am sitting directly behind Delilah.

So far on the list of things baby does like?

I fully intend to whip this sucker out when she brings a boy home.  And my husband’s hand was right outside the shot, so please don’t tell me we were leaving the baby to drown.

I think she likes to try to eat daddy? I’ve never seen a kid latch on to a dude’s t-shirt before, but this kid likes to think outside the box.

She likes to snuggle. So does Rufus.  This might also be why I’m always finding dog hair in her neck folds.

Anyways, it’s been a busy past couple of weeks.  My mom came to visit two weekends ago (that was awesome, she left a fridge full of food and all the laundry done) and we went to the local arts festival (we didn’t stay long since baby melts easily).  I’ve also officially started half marathon training (all our runs are 2 milers until 6/16), which is exhausting in this GD heat, especially since I dehydrate so easily thanks to the fact that I’m lactating.

Charlotte also had her first cold this past week, which just about killed me.  If a baby has a stuffed nose then she can’t eat very well.  This means I have spent the past 4 days suctioning snot out of her nose.  Snot is my thing that I just can’t freaking deal with, so that’s been exciting.  Also, I had the cold too and my husband has it so bad he can barely function.

The same day the colds started (Wednesday) we also got really bad news (not my news to share) and I got a rampaging migraine.  It was a fun night.  And by fun night, I mean thank goodness I’m married to someone who will actually help take care of his child.

Why do we have such low expectation for fathers helping with basic baby care anyways?  I think that’s weird and it definitely doesn’t work that way in my house.

So that’s life right now with my almost 3 month old/almost 1 month old adjusted.  She was checked out by our local early intervention program and they say she’s actually on target both for her gestational and chronological age, which is pretty exciting.  She’s also gigantic looking to me, but people say I’m insane when I say that.

Now I’m off to introduce my little Nibbles (she’s a biter) to her super fun Aunt Kelly.  I’ll try to be back sometime this week.  I hope.

Posted in Dogs, Leapster, Parenting, Training | 14 Comments

A cheetah and a dog?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by

Oh hey, I still have a blog!

Life with a newborn (or at least a baby that acts like a newborn) is kinda tough.  My hours are quite full right now (Kara, you led me to believe that this would be easy with tons of downtime), but I really do want to try to update at least twice a week.

Anyways, last Sunday was my first Mother’s Day as a mother.  I made my husband take us to the zoo on Saturday (they were calling for rain on Sunday).  The Columbus Zoo is one of the best in the country (Jack Hanna is the zookeeper emeritus) and I’m so excited that we have a membership so I can take Charlotte as often as she wants.

The zoo has statues of different animals all over. We stopped at the Komodo Dragon for pictures. This was the only part of the trip where she was actually awake.

My husband and his mini-me. I need to figure out how to get his baby pictures scanned in so you guys can see that he and Charlotte looked identical as babies.

We knew we couldn’t do the whole zoo that day, so we went to the polar bears first (they are the newest exhibit and my husband hadn’t seen them yet), followed by Asia/the big cats, the aquarium, the penguins, and finally the reptile house (my husband’s favorite).

This picture would be much cooler if you could see that the alligator snapping turtle’s mouth was gaping open. This little kid at the exhibit kept calling his mom a liar because she kept telling him the turtle was a real animal and not a decoration.

On the way out I noticed a sign that said you could see a cheetah at 3 PM at this side exhibit I’d never noticed before (Animal Encounters Village).  I demanded we stop and check it out.  We actually stumbled upon a penguin show in the pool on stage.

Live penguin show on the stage. I love penguins.

The penguins had to be rushed out of the pool because some numbnuts dropped his cell phone in to it. The poor penguins were upset.

I got to pet a groundhog. I grew up not far from Punxsutawney, but they never let me touch Phil.

Oh, and we did find the cheetah…

WTH? The cheetah and dog are bffs and like to cuddle.  Freaks.

Apparently the cheetah and Anatolian Shepard dog were raised together to raise awareness about a project to give said dogs to farmers in Namibia.  The dogs in Namibia scare cheetahs away from the farms, thus protecting them from being killed by the farmers.  The zoo publishes a book about the project called Frenemies for Life: Cheetahs and Anatolian Shepherd Dogs, which we picked up for Charlotte’s (overflowing) bookshelf.

Sunday we went to church and then went to buy my gift.  After shopping we stopped for sushi.

The kid was hungry?

Oh yeah, and if you guys are sick of my sucktastic pictures, I have good news.  We finally got a good camera!  My husband got me a dSLR for a push/graduation/Mother’s Day present, so be prepared for awesome pictures.  I was actually trained in advanced microscopy as part of my PhD, so I’m trying to apply those skills (a confocal microscope and dSLR use the same physics, so hopefully it transfers).  Also, if anyone has a dSLR bag they love, link me to it, please!

Oh, and we found out today that Charlotte’s eyes have developed totally normally (preemies have a high risk for retinopathy caused by improper maturation of the eye’s blood vessels, which causes blindness) and she’s being released from the ophthalmologist’s care (he’ll see her when she’s 3 for a preschool screening, but not again until then).  She was 6lbs, 6oz on Monday and the neonatologist said she was growing great.

Posted in Columbus, Leapster, Marriage, Parenting, Preemie | 14 Comments

The time the dog accidentally got drunk

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

Alright, time to fess up.  Things were so insane around here when C was in the NICU that Delilah managed to get in to a glass of wine.  And drink it.

Rufus is always giving me the side eye.

Chocolate wine, of course.  Cause she likes her toxins double. 

Just so we are all clear, I don’t even drink chocolate wine.  Actually, I don’t keep alcohol in the house anymore because I can’t have it and my husband’s been drunk twice in his life (I know, freak).  And if I’m not having fun, then no one gets to have fun.  Also, I think chocolate wine is just wrong.  I like chocolate and I like wine.  I even like them together, but not as a drink.

ANYWAYS (I am the queen of digression), an unnamed houseguest who was helping us out brought her own chocolate wine and left a glass of it sitting in the kitchen.  And by in the kitchen, I mean on the windowsill above the kitchen sink.  She then left it unsupervised.

Long time readers will remember that Delilah has been found more than once on top of a refrigerator and will realize that leaving a glass unsupervised anywhere in the kitchen is probably a mistake.  My husband and I got home (from the hospital, I think) and a little while later said houseguest asked us if we had drunk her wine.

Nope.

This is not a face you can trust.

The “mystery” was solved a short while later when Delilah started flopping down strangely and then stumbled up the steps behind me.  She tried to jump on the bed multiple times, but couldn’t quite make it.  I really wish I would have grabbed the video camera, because it was hilarious.  We had to take her out on a short walk to pee and she could barely stumble in a drunken curvy line.  I kept hoping the neighbors wouldn’t see us because it was just plain ridiculous to behold and would have brought up way to many questions.

It’s all fun and games until the dog can’t stop getting up to pee, though.  Alcohol shuts off a hormone that makes your kidneys retain water, so your bladder really does fill up faster (it’s not just in your head).  Anyways, Captain Drunky couldn’t manage to tell us she had to pee, so she’d roll off the bed, wet the carpet, and then struggle to figure out how to jump back on the bed.  I cannot emphasize enough how hilarious it was when she’d try to jump.  I am an idiot for not whipping out the video camera.  I could finally have fulfilled my goal of being a YouTube celebrity (the dog being one is close enough).

Anyways, before you all get your dogs wasted to see how funny it is, I should probably fill you in on the crappy part.  I woke up a few hours after we all went to bed and Delilah’s respiratory rate was scary slow.  I was about 5 minutes away from taking her to the emergency vet, but I got her to start breathing better after some food and water (alcohol can lower a dog’s blood sugar to dangerous levels).  And I cannot condone intentionally giving a dog alcohol.

Anyways, I’m still slightly embarrassed that my dog is a waste case, but I maintain that this was in no way shape or form my fault.  Also, if you come over to my house, you better guard your food and drink because my dog is possessed by a tiny demon.

Tiny like Gachnar. One of you jerks better get this rather blatant Buffy reference.

Posted in Dogs | 9 Comments

D-Day

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

I know, I promised a post on the time someone got the dog drunk, but I don’t have the mental capacity to type it out right now.  Also, really regretting that I neglected to get some video.

Currently my entire life is centered around baby.  I sleep when she sleeps (some, otherwise I’m washing bottles and shiz like that), I try to eat between feeding her, and I spend an obscene amount of time holding her so she’ll just stop crying (see previous post on how acid reflux is the devil).  I love it, but I’m definitely not quite up to my normal (low) blogging standards.  I promise to do better once the pediatrician allows us let her sleep through the night.  And if I don’t do better, well, suck it up buttercup.

One of her two month pictures. She was not cooperating.  And yes, I like that clothing set so much that I bought it in newborn size as well.  It was also on 40% off clearance.

So, on other news, today is D-Day.  And by D-Day, I mean today is Charlotte’s due date.  It’s so hard to believe she was due today when she’s already been home for almost 3 weeks and she’s been alive for 9 weeks.  I got her weighed on Tuesday and she was 5 pounds, 12.4 ounces, which means she’s gained more than 3 pounds since birth and more than a pound since she’s been home.  She looks huge to me, but I know that’s not actually the case since she’s barely newborn size.  It’s weird, because in some ways she still acts like a newborn and in some ways she doesn’t.

I don’t think newborns usually stick toys in their mouths. Admittedly, I handed her the rattle, but she wrapped her fingers around it and stuck it in her mouth. The rattle was actually my first baby purchase. 5/2/12

It’s strange to think that I was just now supposed to be delivering, but I’m already up to 1 mile running without walking and 2 miles run/walking.  It turns out I would have definitely needed a c-section no matter what, so if she’d been born today, I’d have another 6 weeks before I’d be allowed to do anything.  I didn’t expect to be training for another half marathon until December, but I figured I’d try to look on the bright side and use this as my chance to run the Columbus half since I missed it last year due to my pregnancy.

Bored now.

It’s exciting to be “full-term” since it means my baby is acting more like a baby and less like a preemie, albeit closer to her gestational age than her real age.  It’s a little frustrating that we still can’t treat her like a regular baby, though.  Besides waking her up every 4 hours to eat, we are also still on lockdown because her lungs are still so much more susceptible to illness.  I had fantasies of spending the summer with other moms and babies, but the pediatrician says that’s kind of a no go.  At least she finally fits in the Ergo carrier and we are allowed to go to the zoo and for walks as long as people keep their hands off.

Mandy assures me this counts as mountain climbing training. Guess I should sign up to climb a mountain next?

She seems to like the Ergo. Also, eating her fist is a new talent.  She’ll latch on to anything that isn’t a breast.  Weirdo.

I know some people are wondering how the animals have adjusted.  Well, the cat avoids the tiny human, but he likes her stuff.

Dear Pitch, I hate you.  And I shouldn’t have bought a white playard sheet because he’s turning it black.

Stealing the name of Kara‘s blog. Rufus is always trying to clean her ears and/or neck.  And I’m a terrible mom because I laugh.

The puggles like to be in the same room as her, but they don’t like it if I set her near them.  They prefer to approach (and lick) on their own terms.  Delilah thinks Charlotte is her baby and guards her the way she used to guard my belly.

The other reason I’ve been a bit MIA this week?

I got my Implanon put in. And I bruise like the dickens. It’s great birth control once it heals, but it took me a few days to feel like using my arm for anything.  And this picture is really just for Kara since she was so curious.

So my plan for today is to enjoy my time with my little Squawker and finally let myself move past all the “what could have beens” and the “did I do the right things”.  The NICU is really just fading in to a slightly unpleasant memory and hey, at least I’ve lost all the baby weight already!

Posted in Dogs, Leapster, Parenting, Preemie, Training | 17 Comments

A note on where we came from

Posted on April 28, 2012 by

It was never really a secret on this blog that we had a difficult time conceiving.  We were told I would never get pregnant without fertility treatment and that isn’t a sure thing.

14 months later, we found out we were really, really lucky.  I was fortunate to conceive without ART, but we were getting very close to finally taking the Clomid my gynecologist at the time was pushing.  I spent my entire (abbreviated) pregnancy holding my breath because I was so sure this would end in another loss.  And while I do have a baby in my arms finally, the pain and uncertainty of trying to conceive and pregnancy after infertility has never quite left my mind.

The hardest part about infertility was feeling like I was completely alone.  It’s not something people talk about openly and most people are woefully ignorant of infertility etiquette.  The worst part was that everyone felt free to ask us if we wanted kids or why it was taking us so long to get around to having them (we were married in 2007).  Those questions are, frankly, never appropriate.  And first person to ask about baby #2 will probably take a good hard knock to the head.

We were lucky to have this baby.  We aren’t assuming anything about being able to conceive another one (side note: we also realize I could get pregnant the first time if we have another baby, so we are still being careful.  Just because the first baby was easy/hard to conceive doesn’t mean that will be true the second time).  I’ve been lucky enough to at least get a real diagnosis, while so many infertiles are stuck with “unexplained” infertility, meaning they’ll never know what the cause is.  That being said, they probably can’t fix my septate uterus, so we assume that it could be a problem the next time.

Don’t ignore infertility and pregnancy loss. It’s time to start talking about it openly so we can remove the shame and loneliness that comes with it.

Posted in Septate Uterus, TTC | 10 Comments

And then my head exploded

Posted on April 26, 2012 by

Oh hey, you know what is absolute hell?

Baby acid reflux.

The interesting thing about preemies is that they don’t necessarily scream, but the kid has been grunting and groaning all night long, which keeps me up.  Last night was the worst.  I woke up at 1 AM to feed her and then was up until 4 AM because she wouldn’t sleep.  I finally gave her to my husband at 4 (he usually gets up between 4:30-5 AM).  He glared at me, but got up.  Turns out he thought it was 1 AM because lightning knocked out our power for a minute and set the clock back 3 hours.  I knew it was 4 because I use my cell phone as a clock.  iPhone-1, Husband-0.

Anyways, the pediatrician gave us “the smallest dose of Zantac that [he has] ever prescribed.”  It can take some time to work, though and she’s not so great at keeping it down.  The other thing is Zantac does not prevent the massive spewing fountains, it just makes them burn less.  Here’s hoping it works soon and I get some sleep.

In other news, my husband managed to get himself peed on.  This would not be noteworthy except that he took her diaper off in her room and then carried her in to the bathroom for bath time.  You never take the diaper off until you are over the bathtub.  I was too busy laughing hysterically to help him out.  I am a terrible wife.

Today I ran my first post-baby mile with no walking today.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 weeks since I delivered, especially considering I was expecting to still be pregnant by now.  The kid rolled from her stomach to her back this afternoon.  So much for being newbornish until a few weeks post due date.

Speaking of newbornish, someone outgrew her preemie clothes.  Her legs are too long, but the newborn stuff is still kind of huge.  She’s 5.5 pounds, so I guess we are hitting that transition point.

On that note, the plague is going around my house.  Husband is recovering and I’m fighting a retinal migraine that may or may not be due to said plague.  Either way it sucks and is making typing impossible.  Pray that C doesn’t get it (my head hurts so bad that I couldn’t manage to type out her name).

Since this post is lame, I feel obligated to promise to follow up with the story of Delilah’s drunken insanity from a while ago.  Yeah, that totally happened.  House guests leave alcohol where the dog can reach.

Posted in Leapster, Marriage, Parenting, Preemie, Training | 14 Comments

The next big thing

Posted on April 22, 2012 by

Oh hey guys, guess who you can call Dr. S now.

Can I admit that my dissertation defense felt easy?  I think I was more nervous before my half marathon.  I keep expecting them to tell me I have to do it again because I expected to get battered and bruised and I left my defense feeling good about myself and my work.

The day before my defense. I mostly tried not to freak out. Oh yeah, and I cut my hair short last week.

It was a harrowing morning, though.  C threw up down my arm (luckily it went inside my jacket, rather than on the outside of the sleeve.  I had to leave her for hours.  Mandy did awesome, but I was still upset to leave my baby.  I got to the room and I couldn’t get the computer turned on.  I finally got AV on the phone and they told me I had to pay them (my advisor took care of that problem because he is awesome).  Oh, and I tried to pump right before my defense only to realize I had left a part at home (45 minutes away).  Still, it went great and now I’m making everyone call me Dr.  I still can’t believe that I’m finally done after five years of slaving away and wondering if I could really do it.

So, now what?  Well, turns out PhDs have lots of work from home opportunities.  I’m applying for some editing jobs and possibly an online teaching job (editing pays better by the hour).  I’m actually still being paid through June so that I can keep my health insurance, so I’m not in a huge hurry to find something.  I need to finalize my dissertation document (defenses always bring up some changes) and then submit a chapter to a journal for publication (which involves some formatting and some other changes).  The good news is that I don’t have to put my teeny weeny preemie in daycare, which is frowned upon due to the disease risk.

Over 5 pounds, but still too little for daycare.

I’m not sad to stay home with her.  People keep telling me I’ll be bored in a month, but I’m too tired/busy keeping my head above water to be bored.  I plan to post about her first week home very soon.

I’ve also been running (if you can call it that) again.  I’m using an old 5K training plan (not Couch to 5K, because I hate that one).  As you may recall, my original post-pregnancy goal race is in the beginning of September.  Well, having her 9 weeks early meant that I would be ready to do a 5K closer to June.  Also, the new season of Marathoners in Training (MIT) starts May 19th and you only need to be up to 2 miles for the half schedule.

Yeah, I totally signed up.  I’m sure I’ll regret it once summer really kicks in, but I need goals.  I’m going to try (again) to train for the Columbus Half Marathon on 10/22.  I pulled out last year because I was pregnant and not allowed to run, but hopefully this year I’ll be good to go (I will not be pregnant again, because that would be freaking insane).  By the way, I’d love to talk to someone who trained for a longer race while breastfeeding.  I’m a little worried that I’ll dry up my milk.

Anyone else got big plans for the rest of the year?  I’m trying to keep my goals to a minimum so I don’t burn out and explode from trying to do too much.  I also need to think about managing my weight, but I’m below my pre-pregnancy weight already (breastfeeding burns mega calories), so I’ve been really lazy about it.  Time for some portion control.

One more Leapster picture for good measure. She's a kung fu baby.

Posted in Grad School, Leapster, Parenting, Preemie, Training, Weight Loss | 25 Comments