busy busy

Getting ready to walk yellow puppy.

Getting her friend 'just so'.

This is how I found her....she knows she's up to no good.

but she's pretty proud of herself!

Well Dad is off with the Navy now and the girl is keeping me BUSY. Before she's even out of her crib she's asking for a 'nack, nack' (snack). Then before I get breakfast on the table she's grabbing the doorknob & requesting a "waah, waah" (walk). I've not been very present with her over the last several weeks with all that has gone on, so it is nice to get some quality time with her. The daily developments are fascinating to watch and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with her to notice & appreciate each new step.

The latest developments...

Bea. Heaven forbid we leave Bea (her baby doll) anywhere...if we do she goes berserker until we find Bea. Bea HAS to sit in the chair next to her while we eat...although Luce would love to just hold Bea the entire time. Yesterday she threw poor Bea in the mud at the park & then pushed her down into the ground and pushed her (like you would a truck) for a good few feet. Luckily I was able to distract her at bedtime & Bea took a bath in the washing machine last night. She held up remarkably well!

Park. In Luci's head the park is THE place to be these days. We went three times on Saturday, and 2/3 times I had to literally carry her home kicking & screaming. Bea has a blast being thrown down the terror slide (big kid slide) over & over...about 15 times for Luci's one time down the slide.

Walk. About every 15 minutes all day long Luci grabs at the door knob & asks to go for a 'waaah'. She's at the door with some friend situated just so in her little baby doll stroller. And usually she has her shoes on...the wrong feet (she does it by herself now). On Saturday I got seriously geared up for a 3 mile walk around the loop. I got Pandora loaded on my phone...waters for both of us...a super special chocolate chip granola bar snack for Luci...new stickers & some colors....we were SET. I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk...she readily agreed. We went outside. I attemped to put her in the stroller. All h*ll breaks loose. She starts screaming WAAAHHH, WAAAAH, UP, UP (she means down/out). I get her strapped in by using all of my might...explaining she's going to ride & mama will walk...and when we are done we'll go to the park....and she is flinging her head so hard against the back of the stroller that I have no choice but to take her out. And go on her 'walk'. To the park. For the third time that day.

Shoes. The girl found my shoe shelf yesterday in the closet & I couldn't get her out. Her shoes, my shoes, Dad's shoes...95% of the time on the wrong feet.

Oval. She's starting to identify things as ovals! The first time it was pointing to two clouds in her Hail Mary book...she pointed to them & said, "Oval! Oval!". Next it was the bottom of her fancy electric Elmo toothbrush. She might be a genius ;)

Teeth. She's really into brushing her teeth. Not having Mom brush her teeth, but doing it herself. First Mom takes a turn & then Luci takes a turn. We brush about 4 times a day lately.

Climbing. Her climbing is reaching new heights (haha). She now alerts me to when she's climbed somewhere she knows she shouldn't have. For example the other night I was sitting on the sofa wasting time on the Internet, and all of the sudden I hear, "Mama?" and I turn around & she's pushed the bar stool over by the pantry & was sitting on it. And today we were getting the guest room ready for Pax & Jen (woohoo!!) and she climbed on the chair. I told her to sit on her bottom & ran into her room to get something. I heard, "Mama?"...I ran into the guest room & she had made the leap from the chair to the full size bed...and was delightfully walking/jumping around on it.

Chair. She told me yesterday as I was sitting in her rocking chair after a nap, "my chair" and tried to push me aside. I have no idea if she really knows what this means or not, but it sort of cracked me up.

breakfast

wouldn't the world be a better place if we all had this much fun right after breakfast?

Notes at 18 months

height: 34 inches...50%-75%
weight: 24 lbs, 3 oz...50%
head circumference: 18.5 inches...50%-75%

1. Our girl is OBSESSED with shoes right now...and she's an equal opportunity shoe wearer...her shoes, Mom's shoes, Guh's shoes, Dad's shoes...her shoes AND Mom's shoes...or her shoes AND Dad's shoes. She put her shoes on all by herself today for the first time. And was absolutely furious that it was harder to wear Mom's shoes while wearing her own shoes at the same time. She tries very hard to put them on & gets frustrated in about 10 seconds if things don't go her way.
2. Speaking of things not going her way...her latest expression of frustration is banging her head on the nearest hard surface. This can be Mom or Dad's leg or chest or chin (my personal favorite), the hardwood floors, the carpet, the baby doll stroller, the wall, the cupboard...you get the idea....
3. All of the sudden she hates having her hair washed (water poured over her head).
4. She can't get enough of the necklaces (aka mardi gras beads) that Aunt Lee gave her for Christmas. Luci & baby wear the necklaces for most of their awake time.
5. Baby. All of the sudden she has a favorite baby. She takes baby for a walk & keeps her (baby's clothes have pink trim so we'll assume she's a her) in the crook of her arm for most park activities...including climbing the stairs to the big girl slide & the big girl swing.
6. The park is suddenly a dangerous place from this mama's eyes. Luci has discovered the super duper tall fast slide & the big girl swings...and she LOVES them. Poor thing flies down the big kid slide with this TERRIFIED look on her face...and then immediately trucks back to the stairs to do it again! Baby in tow! She wants to sit in the big girl swing & hangs on for dear life...but when asked if she is all done she promptly responds...no...no...no...no. She also is climbing the crazy monkey bar thing at the little kid end of the park. I can't get the image of chipped teeth out of my head....ugh.
7. Her 18 month pants are getting too short. She's been in 2T shirts for awhile...and I'm sure will be in 3T before we know it. I think she has a long torso.
8. She's really into her bebo (belly button). When she's wearing a onsie & can't get to it she gestures the 'I don't know' while lifting up the shirt to expose the onsie (we do a lot of layering).
9. She's in size 7 shoes! If they charted feet size on a % chart for her age I think she'd be at 100%!
10. She's still in size 5 diapers. She often lets us know when she goes potty...and we've put her on the little potty a few times (she even peed in it once) but she's just not very interested in sitting still without a diaper on....those are exciting times see...she loves to run around naked.
11. Words...since the limiting of the baa (paci) to bed time & car seat time her vocabulary has increased exponentially. She now will repeat most things we say and seems to remember them. My personal favorite? She's started yelling up the stairs for "CAaay" (Clay). I must yell too often.
12. She can't get enough of shapes. She loves her little 8 shape toy and recently I've started drawing shapes on paper when we color...she always responds with the 'more, more' sign.
13. Signing...she still signs a few things consistently...more, thank you & please. She now says "done" instead of signing it. She also consistently says "hi" & "bye bye" instead of waving.
14. She says "bye" and "nigh-nigh" at sleep times.
15. She can't get enough of her books, and recently has moved on to the regular paged Dr. Seuss books. She loves to stack them & carry around more than she likes them read to her.
16. She really seems to enjoy her friends more & more each day. She regularly heads down to Clara's house when we head out the door...often making her way up their walk to knock knock on their door (yes, she really does knock). Thank goodness they seem to like us ;)
17. She gives kisses now. Sometimes big slobbery ones, sometimes closed mouth ones on the cheek in response to a hug request.
18. She is an eating MACHINE.
19. She still loves her some Choo Choo Soul. Thank goodness for a few new song videos that we have on DVR...much easier to say, "just one" and play it on the DVR than the entire DVD of them.
20. Sleep...she usually heads upstairs for her bath at 7p...usually asleep by 7:45p or so...usually up right around 7a. Nap time is typically from 12p or 12:30p to 2p or 2:30p...for about 2 hours.

18 months

spirited temper...
this face cracks me up...i thought we wouldn't see it until she was at least a pre-teen, but here we are...at 18 months...and i'm already irritating her!
there is our happy pea...sadly it was confirmed this weekend (via photo of me at 2 yrs) she gets this bonkers hair from me...sorry luce...

sweet baby at 18 months

As of yesterday, our pea is 18 months old. Holy cow, how time flies. She delights us each day with her goofy sweetness and spirited temper. Notes at 18 months to come. We hit the pedi tomorrow for some shots & a weigh in.

a mess

i'm kind of a mess today. i may have been quite nasty to my husband this morning. i'm sorry dear husband. and i may have seriously lost it to a friend or two this morning. thank you dear friends for listening to me and supporting to me, no matter what the emotion of the moment.

i feel like a time bomb. my horoscope is right on again today...
You might be able to put your best foot forward today, but what's the use of doing that if there's something wrong with the other one? Your key planet Mercury may be rubbing you the wrong way now by running you through a gamut of negative thoughts. Instead of trying to fix anything, just observe with enlightened detachment. Decide what you want to do about your current state of affairs after your attitude improves.

maybe it is post-pregnancy hormones (or lack there-of), or maybe it is just the overwhelming sadness of what has happened...i'm not sure. but here i sit in starbucks...and my yummy drink doesn't even taste good. i'm trying my hardest to focus on work but it just isn't happening. it is taking all i have not to burst into tears right here in starbucks. my heart really feels as at peace as it can with what has happened. but these tears & this anger just won't stop.

i'm scheduled for a d&c tomorrow morning. i'm nervous. i could try to pass the babies on my own, but they've been in heaven for awhile now and the longer i carry them the greater the risk for infection. not to mention it seems impossible to heal emotionally when i have such a huge physical reminder that i'm literally carrying around...and could end up carrying for another month if i don't have the procedure. i just don't want my head to stay in this place any longer than it has to. it's not a very good place to be. our ob said in my shoes she'd have the d&c. and since we pretty much live by her recommendations, we are all set for 7a tomorrow. by this time tomorrow hopefully i'll be resting peacefully in bed listening to the sound of my sweet almost 18 month old running her dad ragged. haypes! (shapes) choo! (choo choo soul) einien! (einstein...as in little einsteins) kitn! (kitchen) a-side! (outside) shoes! coat! cup! 'nack! (snack) no no no!

we feel sad

The appointment this morning at our OB's office revealed two specs in one large sac that she said may have been babies if she used her imagination. We decided to go ahead with another full scan at the hospital with more sensitive equipment. The same tech that told me such blessed news last week looked at us today with kind, sad eyes. She did not share any joyous news today....she did not share any news at all. She simply said she'd call right over to our OB's office.

Our OB called later to confirm what we had suspected given what we had(n't) seen at the hospital scan...that our peas no longer have beating hearts.

Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and kind words over the last week. We will be all right. We just don't feel all right today.

celebrating our twin peas at 9 weeks

Only God knows what our twin peas need...but my body is up for the challenge if I'm it. Look at this! At 9 weeks! With babies that are measuring small! And actually it was taken last night...so it technically wasn't even at 9 weeks yet. But I was choosing joy & feelin as fancy-fancy (as Clara-pea would say) as I get these days with real clothes on. Maternity clothes, that is. I honestly have been sporting yoga pants or maternity pants since before 6 weeks. I figured my uterus was jumping the gun since it knows the drill by now...but I hope it was actually making room for two!

We head in to see Dr. Johnson tomorrow at 9:15a. I'm excited to have another look at our peas. When anxiety creeps back into my heart I repeat "Lord, please give us what we need." I'm taking it one day at a time & leaving tomorrow to Him. And today I'm doing all I can to celebrate 9 weeks with our twin peas.

He is Good

reading books.... cheeeeeeeese!

Here she is actually hanging upside down courtesty of Aunt Baylee!

The girl LOVES her some shooooooes.

Look at what He's given me so far! How can I not trust in that? I'm doing EVERYTHING I can to fill this body with peace. I'm fighting anxiety with my new mantra..."Lord, please give us what we need." And it seems to be working. I'm sleeping again and the pit of anxiety that has consumed me for the last 4 weeks has dissipated. When I feel it coming on I repeat "Lord, please give us what we need" over & over until I'm calm again. My type A personality may be a gift professionally, but boy does it require a lot of energy to subdue & maintain as a mama.

For those of you not 'in the know' on conception & OB lingo these days, peas 3 & 4 are two weeks smaller than they should be...that is not good. At such an early stage of the pregnancy, they should be measuring very close to right on, provided my dates are right. And as I said before in the last post, I know that they are. The growth hormone in my blood was high for no babies, but seemingly low for a baby at 8 weeks, and seemingly super low for two babies at 8 weeks. I feel fewer pregnancy symptoms everyday. I still have a belly bulge that is quite large, but that is about it. (I had hoped there was a wonderful reason that my pants no longer fit at 5.5 weeks! Now I know!)

On the positive side, my most favorite nurse called Friday morning to confirm everything the tech had told me on Thursday. She said the tech found 2 heartbeats...that is very good. I still have not spotted...that is very good. Clay & I will go back to our OB on Thursday morning for another look at our sweetpeas. I'm debating asking for another HCG (growth hormone) check on Monday, but I'm doing my best to just repeat, "Lord, please give us what we need." I know that all of the information I can gather will ultimately not change His plan for us. I am trying to be patient. I also know that the body & stats can fool us...if I've learned anything about motherhood through my own experience and the experiences of my friends, it is that often things are not what they seem. Thank you to everyone for your kind words & thoughts. All we can do is trust & have faith that He is Good, and He will give us what we need.

thanksgiving...

On Thanksgiving we conceived. I know this, because I fully embraced TCOYF while trying to conceive Luci. I've peed on more sticks in the last 3 years than most people probably do in a life time. So I believe, the best of my humanly ability, that we conceived on Thanksgiving Day, 11/27/2008.

I tested positive at home on Monday, 12/8. After our last pregnancy & miscarriage, I was anxious to get in to my OB & have a beta done in order to determine my HCG levels. On day 29 it was confirmed that the level had almost tripled from day 27, and that was the best news we could hope for at such an early point. I made an appointment for what would be 8 weeks & 1 day after my last known period. That day was today.

The days since 12/8 have been incredibly anxious ones. I've not had any spotting, and I've felt remarkably well. So well that it has added to my anxiety that all may not be well with the pregnancy. I'm exhausted, but that is kind of par for the course with a toddler.

I read my horoscope this morning (I don't put much stock in it, but it adds entertainment value to my life so I usually read it) and thought, boo: You could be overwhelmed with a diverse range of facts today, some of which contradict others. You feel compelled to sort out the truth from the pile of information, but every time you think you know what's going on, something else suggests you got it wrong. Don't give up, even if you are frustrated. Stick with your process, but keep in mind that you'll need to give reality sufficient time to fully reveal itself.

Around 11:30a this morning Clay & I saw a baby measuring 6w3d. We had hoped to see a baby that measured around 8w1d. We did not see a beating heart. After a blood draw, we left with heavy hearts. At 3:30p my favorite nurse in the entire world called to tell me that my HCG level was surprisingly high given the baby we had seen earlier in the day. Our OB felt a full ultrasound was in order.

At 4p Clay left for a 4-day trip. At 4:30p my dear Amanda came down & accompanied me to a 5p ultrasound at the hospital with more sensitive equipment. The tech told me she couldn't give me any results (they always say that), and I told her I understood. I asked if I could look at the screen, and she told me I could once she had the images she needed. After a bit of a gruff start, she asked some sensitive questions in a very matter of fact way. I answered honestly & a bit emotionally. Once she had the required images, she turned on a dime & told me she saw a beating heart. She showed me a tiny, pulsing dot. She told me that in fact, she thought she saw two babies. That she measured two babies. And she thinks she saw two beating hearts. Two babies each measuring 6w1d. As opposed to 8w1d. She casually said I was probably off on my dates. I know that to the best of my human ability, I am not.

So for tonight, I am trying to calm my anxious heart by giving thanks. I am taking a page from my own intellectual book (as opposed to the scared, anxious emotional one that has been ruling all day), and thanking God for these two babies. I am thanking God for every single day that I get to be their mama here on earth. For everyday that I get to be a mama period...to all of my babies, born or unborn. So here I am...giving thanks & praying. Because as my hopeful favorite nurse said to us this morning, "Girl, science can't explain it all."

Iowa in photos

Luci's first snow outfit courtesy of Grammy Rosonke...Luci had a bit of a challenge keeping her balance! Luckily Aunt Baylee was never too far away to catch her!

A few days later it was warm enough to venture outside...unfortunately we waited a bit too long & the snow had melted & then iced over...so it was hard crunchy snow. Aunt Baylee and Mr. Drew (see feet upper left) tried to show her it was fun.

But she was looking for MOM, ready to come back inside!

On Christmas morning!

we did it!

We (okay...maybe I) made it through a crazy busy holiday season!! Luci seems no worse for the wear. But we are home again and I am LOVING it.

In short...my camera arrives this afternoon with my sister Baylee & her bf Drew so I'll save the photos for another post.

Luci & I spent Christmas in Iowa with my family. My wonderful dad, sister & grandma drove 6 hours in one day to pick Luci & I up in Des Moines on Tuesday the 23rd. We played at Recess (an indoor play area) to wear Luci out for the 3 hour drive home. It worked. After watching Choo Choo Soul on repeat (maybe 3x?) she slept the rest of the way to Mom & Dad's. We had a blast visiting Harold & Myrtle the Great, Benny the Great (my grandparents & Luci's great-grandparents), all of my aunts & uncles on the Rosonke side, as well as Brenda & Mike the Great on the Halvorson side. We also got to visit our very good friends Renae & David Engel, as well as several of my high-school friends & their kiddos. It was a VERY busy trip, but also productive in that we got to see lots of people. On Sunday the 28th Mom, Dad & Baylee again drove 6 hours in one day to take us to Des Moines so we could fly home to see Clay. I actually bought a ticket because I knew if I didn't there was no way there would be space, and that Luci & I would be on our own for Christmas. I held Luci on my lap, and in short, I'll never, EVER do that again.

After a few days at home catching up with work & laundry we were off again to Indiana to see our Pierse family. We got to see all of Luci's aunts & uncles & cousin, as well as spend lots of time with her guh-ma & guh-pa. It was more relaxing than Iowa in that in Indiana everyone comes to Barb & Don's to see us, whereas in Iowa we are the ones making the trek....so that was nice. We also got to see some of Clay's cousins & some great family friends of Barb & Don's. Logistics to Indiana are MUCH easier, as the post airport drive is only 45 minutes compared to 3 hours in Iowa. We picked flights with lots of availability, and we managed to finagle 3 seats together both ways. Luci did GREAT with her own seat...so from now on that's how we'll roll.

I'm going to wrap up this post with a big THANK YOU to both Grammy & Grandpy Rosonke and Guh-ma & Guh-pa Pierse for so wonderfully accommodating us. I know I can be high maintenance & easily stressed & maybe even a bit grouchy at times during travel with my tot, but as I told my dad...I have an excuse...I come by it naturally ;)

gone again

I didn't get a chance to post about our Iowa adventure before we began our Indiana adventure. We are up visiting Clay's parents for a few days so I'll have lots to share once we return.

home again

yaaay. There is no place like home. I love going back to my parents' house & seeing family & friends, but then I love coming home. Clay thinks it is crazy how much I love to be home. Can't help it, just do.

Flights were relatively on-time and uneventful...except that Luci is TOO BIG to sit on my lap. She just doesn't fit. I couldn't reach my bag of tricks (full of stickers & colors & aqua doodley thing & DVDs & snacks), and then even when I could, we barely had room to play. The woman we sat next to on the way up was rude, rude, RUDE...so that didn't help. Luckily on the way home the young woman was exactly the opposite. We won't be flying that way again. Maybe if Clay had been with us it would have worked, but solo with a large 17 month old on my lap is not happening again.

Sadly, I forgot my camera at Mom & Dad's, but luckily Aunt Baylee & Mr. Drew (her sweet bf) are coming down to visit a week from Wednesday, so they'll bring it to me then.

More to come on our trip, but for now, I'm beat (as I tell Clay pretty much every night about 9p). So I'm off to bed. 'night.

my northern blood

nothing like a cat food can tower...

has thinned. It 'feels like' 30 here today and I was FREEZING. Should be an interesting few days as Luci & I head up north to Iowa. Sadly Clay has to work tomorrow late afternoon through Saturday night...so Luci & I are hitting Grammy & Grampy's house for Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the 2+ hour flight goes well with her on my lap. And then that the 3 hour drive goes well...

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no, it wasn't

Clay flying that airplane in Denver. Thank goodness. Our thoughts & prayers go out to all aboard.

luci, what is your baby cousin's name?

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This was filmed back on 12/9 when we were still sick! I tried to get a better video this morning, but when I asked her what her cousin's name was she laughed/screeched & took off running. Then I asked her if she could say Asher...and she shook her head no...followed by a screech & a run into the kitchen! Screeching is her new favorite thing...

We again went to the pedi this week after a night of no sleep between 12:30a and 3:15a...I was worried about the ears, but it turned out to be her canine teeth. She's been up everyday this week at 5:30a...UGH. But anyway, back to the reason I'm telling you this...because at the office we saw a newborn baby who was introduced to us by her 3ish year old brother...and I said, "Luci, look at the baby!!" And Luci said, "Asher!"

first hair cut!!

The first several are 'before' and the hot pink sweater photos (yes, I know she is wearing 3 different patterns ;) are 'after'. I have captions on some of them, but I'm not sure if all of you readers can see them...

Luci has very fine, kind of bonkers hair...it has been that way since she was born, really. And while her sweet little girl mullet was adorable to us as her mom & dad...I feared it was just sort of looking unkempt to the rest of the world. So I decided (sort of all of the sudden) that she needed her first hair cut, and she needed it TODAY. I web stalked kiddie cut places last night & called the two I had narrowed it down to this morning when they opened at 10a. We settled on Sweet & Sassy (where her little friend goes, of course) at 4p...but she woke up early from her nap so I took her in at 3p instead. At first she did great in the chair...let me buckle her in...put the hair gown thingy on...and then just as the stylist was ready to snip she started to FREAK OUT. Like hysterically trying to get out of the chair & practically hurting herself because she was still strapped in. Luckily the stylist was not phased by this and told me she could cut the hair while I held Luci. So I stood & held Luci...asking her where my eyes were, my nose, etc. to get her to look forward & hold still. All in the actual cutting took maybe 45 seconds...and $15.95 later (+ tip) our Luci is rockin a sweet baby girl style that, to me, screams "Nan". To me, it looks like the hair cut a little girl named Nan would wear. Like a little kids school book...with Dick and Jane, and Nan...this is Nan's hair cut. It is en route to a bob. Nan has blond hair & it looks like Luci's. Strange...I know. But I'm tellin ya, it is a "Nan" cut.

Unfortunately Dad is & was not really on board. He got kind of choked up when he realized how short the back was and that her little curls were gone. I told him not to worry...I brought the curls home in a little plastic baggy. And for the record, I did stick to my promise and I did not let them 'make her look like a boy'.

Now really, truth be told, I wanted to get a hair cut too...but December is an expensive month...and let's just say my haircut costs more than $15.95. So Lil Luce got to be the big winner & in the process we both feel a bit fresher, even if she's the only one with a new 'do. And I'm pretty sure Dad will come around too...it might just take a little while. But we're patient :)

better

Doesn't she look like such a big girl in this photo??
I was trying to get a good photo in front of the tree...and it was not easy. I finally asked, "where is Guh?" just to get her to look at me. This is her answer (all 4 guh's are far, far away).

Then I thought maybe I could get a better photo with a zebra to keep her busy...not so much though.Funny story...I bought this fleece for Luci a few days before Guh Pierse (Barb) came down to help out while we were sick. She came bearing gifts...of the matching hat & mittens!! Guh & I have such good taste :)

I'd say Luci is very close to all better....probably 93% better with a few points taken away for a lingering cough. However since our pedi said the cough could linger for months, I'm going to say she is pretty much all better. I've not wiped a runny nose in days! I'm looking forward to resuming our normal activities this week (library, Gymboree & playgroup) and seeing some friends. The park is more fun for Mom when I call a girlfriend up ahead of time to meet us there. And I'd like to think it is more fun for Luci too when she has friends there :)

I'm getting better every day too, although I've not quite bounced back like a toddler...I think I must be getting old.

And the little lady is up...saying, "Ma? Ma?" I love listening to her little voice when she wakes up happy from a nap. Now she's up there cracking up about something...I love it.

on the mend

Thanks Guh...we miss you. Luci walked into our guest room this morning (the first morning Guh was gone) and said, "Guuuuuhhhh, Guuuuhhhh" in the same tone she does when she's lost her baa and calls for it!

Could have been a Christmas card winner...but obviously Luci wasn't into it.

Well I think we are on the mend. Luci's rash has all but completely cleared up, and her cough and snot are lightening up...I think. Grandma Pierse came down for the weekend and really saved the day for this sick mama. I slept most of the day away on Saturday and woke up Sunday feeling more rested than I have in weeks. We are getting there...which is great, because even though I feel like crap most of the time, I miss my friends!

RSV & an allergic reaction to amoxicillin

Tonight without clothes, but with diaper. I let her run around diaper-less twice today & she peed both times! Of course!

Earlier today before the doctor visit...

another shot from tonight...we think it is looking a bit better here...do you?

It is official...Luci tested positive for RSV today. The rash yesterday turned out to be a reaction to the amoxicillin...and it got MUCH worse today. So we were off to the doctor again for the second day in a row...this time to see our own pedi who we adore. He was fairly concerned about the rash so we've stopped all antibiotics at this point. Yesterday she was diagnosed with the double ear infection but given the RSV and the rash he's decided not to treat them at this point.

Grandma Pierse arrived around noon (thank goodness...or, should I say, thank Grandma!) with a little penguin box that kept Luci occupied much of the day. She also treated us to some of her yummy chicken & rice soup for dinner. I'm very grateful for the extra set of hands, eyes & overall support.

As for me, I don't even realize how horrible I feel until Luci is napping or sleeping at night. Either I get substantially worse at these times (could happen), or I'm so worried about Luci & busy tending to her when she's up that I don't notice how miserable I am. Right now (she's been asleep for almost 2 hours tonight) I am MISERABLE and heading to bed shortly.

sick, sad & sleepless

Luci woke up this morning with a rash. On top of her cold. And her blowout diapers.
And her cough. And on again, off again fever. ugh. And her afternoon nap lasted a whole 45 minutes. sweet!

I was hoping to meet my sweet baby nephew Asher on Saturday, but at this rate it is looking less & less likely that it'll happen. Sad. I'm sick & sleepless due to my cough, and a call to my OB this morning confirmed I can't take the meds I want to. boo.

Regardless, my wonderful MIL is headed down tomorrow morning...either to watch Luci while I head to Tucson if I start to feel human, or just to help out so I can get some rest if I don't! Clay's been working a lot & was only home 1 in 8 days this week...he returns on Sunday...so I am looking forward to another set of helpful hands.

All in, I'm still focusing on all of the many blessings we have...and they are MANY.

sick again...or maybe still...

somehow all of our kitchen & bath towels become shawls... check out my winter hat! it matches my puffer jacket :)

it was a hat day...the girl loves her some hats.

not sure what this was all about...

sharing her 'baaa' (paci) with her 'baayyy' (baby)...and saying 'cheeeee' (cheese)!

Ugh. What a few weeks this has been. Luci was diagnosed with her first ear infection last Wednesday and has a horrible cough. But luckily, it isn't as HORRIBLE as mine. This morning I woke up & felt so miserable I decided to cave & go to the doctor even though I had to bring Luci with me. Maybe a good thing I did...I have a sinus infection (I knew that one), and atypical bronchitis. Fun times. At least I have some meds now & hopefully will be feeling better soon. The tricky part is that since we are actively trying to conceive I'm limited on what medicine I can take....aka the ones that historically I know have worked for me. I have a deviated septum so let's just say I'm no stranger to sinus infections or the following meds. But hopefully we'll be a healthy household again soon!