Well, I survived my baby turning 1 yesterday. We had a nice little celebration. I was able to leave work early, so we ate dinner with my parents (had spaghetti since it's one of Jake's favorites) and then opened all of his gifts. Andy jokes that it looks like a daycare threw up in our sunroom (well, once sunroom...now playroom). Honestly, we have more crap than Jake's daycare! His favorite birthday gifts? 1. His fisher price chair (great recommendation rach!) 2. the cool tunnel and grandma and grandpa got him and 3. a toy phone from Leslie and Coen. He was fascinated with the phone and rushed over to play with it as soon as he got dressed this morning.
Tomorrow brings the "formal" party. I'm so thankful that I opted for basically paying someone else to host it. We're expecting nearly 40+ people and I'm glad to not have the stress of hosting such a large group at my house.
My realization? Birthdays really are a celebration of life. Sure, the birthday boy or girl gets lots of attention and gifts, but the day isn't really just about that person. I realized yesterday that it's more about the people who experienced and celebrated in the actual birth. Okay, so really I think it's about the mother...seriously. Yesterday I was transported not just back to the hospital and delivery room, but reminded of the entire pregnancy (and all of its trials and tribulations!). This is going to sound terribly selfish, but I don't care....Jake gets all of the praise and fuss, but I'm the one that did all of the work and experienced all of the PAIN a year ago! LOL On that note...I publicly apologize to my mom. From now on, she'll be getting a gift and/or card every February 10th. I was born that day and that's it...she did all the work. And, yes, we do celebrate Mother's Day every year....but that's not enough b/c we also celebrate Father's Day. Father's don't carry the child in their womb while their body is ravaged for 9+ months and they do not experience child birth and the weeks/months of pain afterward (not to mention the fat that never goes away and the stretch marks!).
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
New Year Reflections
Screw resolutions. Who realistically follows through? This year I’ve decided to reflect on 2007 instead. Plus, if you highlight your amazing accomplishments from the year past, surely it will help motivate to do better/be better in the coming year, right? Seems to be sound logic.
2007 was nothing short of an amazing year. In fact, 2007 has been the most significant of my life to date, bringing both the greatest challenges and rewards. So, what did I do?
· Stayed overnight (well, week) in the hospital for the first time in my life
· Got to meet Jake!
· Survived having a child in the NICU for 58 days
· Got to bring Jake home and introduce him to his “brothers” and the rest of the world
· Learned how to care for a baby…and became pretty darn good at it I think (or hope for Jake’s sake! LOL)
· Made lots of new friends (among them—Rachel, Arlene & Jen)
· Learned that I really don’t need 9 hours of sleep a night…or 8…or even 7!
· Began to understand my mom and some places in our history much better
· Kept my son on breast milk for the entire year. This is a big one and probably my proudest accomplishment of the year. It was hard…really, really hard…one of the most difficult things I’ve done…but I did it. He turns 1 today (another post entirely) and he is still on breast milk! I’d hate to count the hours I spent over the past year with a breast pump attached to myself!
· Learned to be a working mom…also one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but also so very worth it! I think I’m a great lawyer and also think I’m a great mom and think that I’m better at each now because of the other. I’m sure I will always wish I had more time to devote to each thing, but for now I think I’ve been able to find a very nice balance.
· Traveled successfully to several states via both vehicle and plane with baby (and all of baby’s crap!)
· Successfully dined out (nearly weekly) with baby. This seems a bit insignificant, but one that I’m really happy about b/c it was a big concern. Andy and I eat out (or take out) A LOT…I’m so happy that Jake also enjoys it!
· Lost baby weight.
· Lost more than baby weight…got to w/in 10 lbs. of college weight! Also very proud of this one…and feel terrific!
· Learned that I’m still a kick-ass cook. With the help of a great recipe…I made a 6 layer (yes, 6!) carrot cake.
· Oh yeah…turned 30…and realized that I do love my 30’s!
· Finally, and I’m sure I’m leaving lots out, I continued to realize what an amazing marriage I have. We’ve now been married for over 8 years…and have been together for nearly 14 years (nearly ½ of my life!). Wow! Life with Andy continues to be full of such wonderful surprises and I can’t wait to see what 2008 brings.
2007 was nothing short of an amazing year. In fact, 2007 has been the most significant of my life to date, bringing both the greatest challenges and rewards. So, what did I do?
· Stayed overnight (well, week) in the hospital for the first time in my life
· Got to meet Jake!
· Survived having a child in the NICU for 58 days
· Got to bring Jake home and introduce him to his “brothers” and the rest of the world
· Learned how to care for a baby…and became pretty darn good at it I think (or hope for Jake’s sake! LOL)
· Made lots of new friends (among them—Rachel, Arlene & Jen)
· Learned that I really don’t need 9 hours of sleep a night…or 8…or even 7!
· Began to understand my mom and some places in our history much better
· Kept my son on breast milk for the entire year. This is a big one and probably my proudest accomplishment of the year. It was hard…really, really hard…one of the most difficult things I’ve done…but I did it. He turns 1 today (another post entirely) and he is still on breast milk! I’d hate to count the hours I spent over the past year with a breast pump attached to myself!
· Learned to be a working mom…also one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, but also so very worth it! I think I’m a great lawyer and also think I’m a great mom and think that I’m better at each now because of the other. I’m sure I will always wish I had more time to devote to each thing, but for now I think I’ve been able to find a very nice balance.
· Traveled successfully to several states via both vehicle and plane with baby (and all of baby’s crap!)
· Successfully dined out (nearly weekly) with baby. This seems a bit insignificant, but one that I’m really happy about b/c it was a big concern. Andy and I eat out (or take out) A LOT…I’m so happy that Jake also enjoys it!
· Lost baby weight.
· Lost more than baby weight…got to w/in 10 lbs. of college weight! Also very proud of this one…and feel terrific!
· Learned that I’m still a kick-ass cook. With the help of a great recipe…I made a 6 layer (yes, 6!) carrot cake.
· Oh yeah…turned 30…and realized that I do love my 30’s!
· Finally, and I’m sure I’m leaving lots out, I continued to realize what an amazing marriage I have. We’ve now been married for over 8 years…and have been together for nearly 14 years (nearly ½ of my life!). Wow! Life with Andy continues to be full of such wonderful surprises and I can’t wait to see what 2008 brings.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Happy Halloween
I survived my first trip away from Jake...barely. In 4 short days he learned to clap and also graduated from the commando crawl to a full, on all fours crawl...and I missed it:( Vegas was fun. It was great to see old friends and hang out with some new people. Fantastic food and a great show--Spamalot.
Before I left, Jake went to his first Halloween party and when I got home, he went to his first birthday party...a costume party for Alanna's first birthday (which is actually on Halloween). Here are some pictures from both: (Okay, so there are no pictures below. This draft has been sitting in my account for a few weeks now and I don't currently have access to the photos to post them)
Thursday, September 13, 2007
246...
Number of days that Jake has been alive. 188...number of days he's been home. Lately, I've been drifting back to those first 58 days quite often. It seems like a lifetime ago. It often seems like a dream. Did I really deliver my child nearly 3 months early? Was I in the hospital for a week? Did only get to briefly see him and then have to wait until the next day to actually meet my son? Did I then really have to wait a week to finally hold him? A month to bathe him? Two months to take him home?
When Jake was in the hospital, I didn't take time to blog...ha...I didn't have the time to blog. I also didn't have time to write in a journal or otherwise record the experience. So, I thought I'd try to take some time in the next few days (okay, so in reality with me it will likely be weeks) to blog about those 58 days.
Days 1 and 2...
DAY 1, January 10, 2007
I learned the night before that they would be inducing me. Through the night, the doctor on call started to get concerned about a few small episodes of bradycardia and finally decided to speed up the induction by a couple of hours. I don't have fond memories of the 12 hours I was in labor. The very best moment was the moment that Dr. McLees said the magical word that I'd been waiting for...c-section! At last! I was so ready to have the delivery over...mostly because of the drug I was on to prevent me from having seizures--magnesium sulfate. The mag made me beyond lethargic. By the end (I'd been on it for several days), I could barely move or speak. In my head I was participating in conversations, but what actually came out was "buuuuuuuh." Not my best moment.
Andy was with me for the delivery. He was so sweet and so terrified. He wouldn't watch the surgery...the wuss! :) I had an epidural rather than a spinal block because of my blood pressure. I was surprised that I could actually feel a tugging and then feel when they pulled Jake out. It only took a split second for him to cry, but that was honestly one of the longest moments of my life as I closed my eyes and held my breath. They prepared me that it could be up to 3 days before I'd actually see Jake...he would be whisked away to NICU and I would be bedridden and on the mag for up to 3 days to give my kidneys time to recover. Miraculously, his breathing was stable enough for them to bring him right up to my face before taking him away. 3 seconds...that was about all I had. The mag also made my vision terrible--I had double vision, so I had to concentrate really hard and close one eye to get a good look at him. It would be another week before I'd get to kiss him again.
27 minutes...the length of the entire surgery. McLees is a speedy guy...and good...you should see my scar--it's fantastic.
12 hours...the amount of time before I get the best news since learning Jake was healthy...they were stopping the mag...I'd get to see Jake within hours. It was 4am on Day 2--January 11, 2007. My room was ready by 10am and as soon as I moved (and we had a lot to move:), Andy wheeled me to the NICU. I scrubbed in for the first time; he wheeled me through the door, down a row lined with isolettes, turned the corner and Jake was straight ahead. It was so overwhelming. Part of it was also so unfair. Andy and the grandparents had all got to spend time with Jake. They'd toured the NICU. They'd met the nurses, learned the lingo and the procedures...and here I was, his mother, lost and essentially the last to meet my son for the first time. I cried...a lot...I still cry now thinking about it. I could never see how small he really was...how scary he looked (seriously)...all I could see was my Jake. My beautiful Jake...and how he looked just like his daddy.
246 days ago . . . 2 pounds, 9 ounces/ 14 1/2 inches long
When Jake was in the hospital, I didn't take time to blog...ha...I didn't have the time to blog. I also didn't have time to write in a journal or otherwise record the experience. So, I thought I'd try to take some time in the next few days (okay, so in reality with me it will likely be weeks) to blog about those 58 days.
Days 1 and 2...
DAY 1, January 10, 2007
I learned the night before that they would be inducing me. Through the night, the doctor on call started to get concerned about a few small episodes of bradycardia and finally decided to speed up the induction by a couple of hours. I don't have fond memories of the 12 hours I was in labor. The very best moment was the moment that Dr. McLees said the magical word that I'd been waiting for...c-section! At last! I was so ready to have the delivery over...mostly because of the drug I was on to prevent me from having seizures--magnesium sulfate. The mag made me beyond lethargic. By the end (I'd been on it for several days), I could barely move or speak. In my head I was participating in conversations, but what actually came out was "buuuuuuuh." Not my best moment.
Andy was with me for the delivery. He was so sweet and so terrified. He wouldn't watch the surgery...the wuss! :) I had an epidural rather than a spinal block because of my blood pressure. I was surprised that I could actually feel a tugging and then feel when they pulled Jake out. It only took a split second for him to cry, but that was honestly one of the longest moments of my life as I closed my eyes and held my breath. They prepared me that it could be up to 3 days before I'd actually see Jake...he would be whisked away to NICU and I would be bedridden and on the mag for up to 3 days to give my kidneys time to recover. Miraculously, his breathing was stable enough for them to bring him right up to my face before taking him away. 3 seconds...that was about all I had. The mag also made my vision terrible--I had double vision, so I had to concentrate really hard and close one eye to get a good look at him. It would be another week before I'd get to kiss him again.
27 minutes...the length of the entire surgery. McLees is a speedy guy...and good...you should see my scar--it's fantastic.
12 hours...the amount of time before I get the best news since learning Jake was healthy...they were stopping the mag...I'd get to see Jake within hours. It was 4am on Day 2--January 11, 2007. My room was ready by 10am and as soon as I moved (and we had a lot to move:), Andy wheeled me to the NICU. I scrubbed in for the first time; he wheeled me through the door, down a row lined with isolettes, turned the corner and Jake was straight ahead. It was so overwhelming. Part of it was also so unfair. Andy and the grandparents had all got to spend time with Jake. They'd toured the NICU. They'd met the nurses, learned the lingo and the procedures...and here I was, his mother, lost and essentially the last to meet my son for the first time. I cried...a lot...I still cry now thinking about it. I could never see how small he really was...how scary he looked (seriously)...all I could see was my Jake. My beautiful Jake...and how he looked just like his daddy.
246 days ago . . . 2 pounds, 9 ounces/ 14 1/2 inches long
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Joanie
Joanie told me I needed to update my blog...so, well...no time like the present. Thoughts of/comments on the day:
Michigan---what the hell?! I loathe Michigan, but I don't wish back to back ass whippings like that on anyone...not to mention it just makes the Big 10 look bad!
Notre Dame---hahahaha...okay, so I do wish the ass whipping on them! Glad to see Penn State have such a good game. Silly Irish for giving Charlie Weis that extended contract and all that money.
Tennessee is winning...finally...better go watch...and play with Cate...she's hitting me with her pink Barbie brush...
Michigan---what the hell?! I loathe Michigan, but I don't wish back to back ass whippings like that on anyone...not to mention it just makes the Big 10 look bad!
Notre Dame---hahahaha...okay, so I do wish the ass whipping on them! Glad to see Penn State have such a good game. Silly Irish for giving Charlie Weis that extended contract and all that money.
Tennessee is winning...finally...better go watch...and play with Cate...she's hitting me with her pink Barbie brush...
Friday, August 31, 2007
Today Mid-West, Tomorrow...the South?
Today is generally a good day:
1. The countdown is approaching 24 hours!!! Although, I must report, that sadly, I will likely not get to see my beloved Buckeyes play their opener. *&%$'n Knology isn't carrying The Big Ten Network, so I'm basically *&%$ed!
2. Jake is decked out today in his new TN Jersey....I think he's destined to be a football player...he looks adorable. No picture to share yet...I tried, but he only wanted to play this morning, so all got was a picture of an orange blur!
3. 3 day weekend...enough said!!!!
4. Girls' Night Out...going to the new movie theater downtown for some Superbad with friends tonight.
5. Last, but certainly not least, apparently the Mid-West is starting to come out of the dark ages and join the Northeast. CNN is reporting a ruling from an Iowa judge that same sex couples cannot be denied marriage license under the state's constitution. Iowa! Freakin' fantastic! Of course, I'm sure the next step will be the state legislature pushing to change their constitution b/c apparently, in our country, discriminating against people for their sexual preference is much more important than those other trivial issues facing our country...you know, like fighting poverty, hunger, global warming, crime... Kudos to Judge Robert Hanson for doing what is right and not being clouded by the conservative agenda!
Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!
1. The countdown is approaching 24 hours!!! Although, I must report, that sadly, I will likely not get to see my beloved Buckeyes play their opener. *&%$'n Knology isn't carrying The Big Ten Network, so I'm basically *&%$ed!
2. Jake is decked out today in his new TN Jersey....I think he's destined to be a football player...he looks adorable. No picture to share yet...I tried, but he only wanted to play this morning, so all got was a picture of an orange blur!
3. 3 day weekend...enough said!!!!
4. Girls' Night Out...going to the new movie theater downtown for some Superbad with friends tonight.
5. Last, but certainly not least, apparently the Mid-West is starting to come out of the dark ages and join the Northeast. CNN is reporting a ruling from an Iowa judge that same sex couples cannot be denied marriage license under the state's constitution. Iowa! Freakin' fantastic! Of course, I'm sure the next step will be the state legislature pushing to change their constitution b/c apparently, in our country, discriminating against people for their sexual preference is much more important than those other trivial issues facing our country...you know, like fighting poverty, hunger, global warming, crime... Kudos to Judge Robert Hanson for doing what is right and not being clouded by the conservative agenda!
Happy Labor Day Weekend Everyone!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Old Friends
As the countdown continues (2 DAYS TO GO AND COUNTING!), one of my TV obsessions has also returned...College GameDay! I missed my old friends (apologies to Chris Fowler for not including a picture of him):
We really do try to keep Jake from watching too much tv (b/c of overstimulation, ADD, etc.), but an exception must be made on Fall Saturdays...I mean, what kind of mother would I be if I denied him the magic of ESPN and college football?
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