Any day now...

We were doing so well...granted, I'm a little bit apprehensive about letting Elijah sleep on his tummy but he has been sleeping SO well. He sleeps between 2.5 and 3 hours at a time with minimal fussing prior to passing out. And he wakes up in a good mood each time, eats happily, burps quite loudly and then goes back to sleep (after he gets his back rubbed for a few minutes!) It has been a good few days here...

It is now 2:06am...my child is wide awake and has been since his dad got home from work. He has dozed off a few times but only for about 5 minutes. I'm getting sleepy and he is wide awake, staring at me from his swing. I'm am so very tempted to leave him swinging and just lay on the couch but I've got this issue with even thinking about being sleepy myself when he is awake. I just wish he would get tired already ...

Let's see if I can find some good pics to put up to keep myself busy for a few minute...
Oh how I LOVE this picture! He was so happy after our drive back to Wisconsin.


This, however, was the look I gave Adam when he tried to take my picture after our drive back to Wisconsin! (EDITOR'S NOTE: anyone else notice that my chin resembles a butt?)


I stole this picture from Caitlin...he looks so small!


This is my fat boy, Dizzy...it's pretty tough to get good pictures of him because he's camera shy . But he's getting "up there" in ferret years so I want to be sure to get a few pics of him posted, too...

OK folks...that's all for now...sigh...sleep would be so nice right now! Guess we'll be sleeping in tomorrow

Yeah, I know...posts and pictures are scarce right now. But in my defense, my child didn't go to sleep last night until NOON TODAY! Yeah, we put him to bed, he slept for about 20 minutes, woke up screaming and was not really in the mood for anything. In fact, I FELL ASLEEP nursing him once and he woke me up to let me know it was time to switch sides! That was about 5am. I thought once or twice that he was finished but no...when I attempted to move at all he protested quite loudly. Finally, about 7am, I couldn't even think any more...he'd eaten again, been changed and rocked and sung to and had his back rubbed and we did his "leg presses" (ya know, to get the gas out!)...there was nothing else. I laid him in his crib and went to try to sleep...20 minutes and "Lungs" was at it again. I let him cry, thinking he was just "consoling himself to sleep"...I have read that some babies need to cry to fall asleep...no, he wasn't going to sleep for ANYTHING! Adam left for work and I remained strong for about a half hour and gave up. What moron decided that it's OK for moms to let their babies cry? Am I going to get any sleep with him screaming in the next room, or when he's in the room with me? DUH...so anyhow, he and I went through the above ritual until noon today; that's when "Lungs" decided it was time to sleep. Bless him...I actually slept for almost three hours after that ordeal.

So, my apologies if my presence here is not as frequent as it used to be. I try because I know it's tough for those of you who are far away! So I'll post a bunch now and hopefully that will tie Caitlin over for the next few days!


This is one of my favorite recent pics of him...this is how he practices getting his mouth open REALLY wide for those early morning "lung strengthening marathons"!




You might not be able to tell but that is a sticker from a banana that says "Stick this to your forehead and smile"...Dad thought it would be funny to stick it on Elijah's head...and on the cats who protested quite a bit!







...and one more that I'm sure you'll love...

You can go ahead and say it...he looks like his dad . I'm not sure what he got from me yet...maybe just a warm place to live for 40 weeks!

bath time!

Bath time! He actually seemed to enjoy this quite a bit! It made me happy to see him so content...

Such modesty...he crossed his legs right when we took the picture...

Dad wanted to take a picture of him all soaped up...and that crazy duck almost swam away before we got the picture taken.

He wasn't too happy when we took him out of the bathtub...and Dad was making fun of him (I don't think that helped the situation but it did make for a good picture!)

All warm and toasty in his reindeer blanky...he slept for about 2 hours like this...guess we tired him out!

That's all for now...

first check up and pics

Elijah had his first checkup today...here's his current stats (and old ones for comparison):

11/17/06 (His birthday!) : 7 lbs, 10.4 ozs and 18.5 inches long

11/21/06 (we came home) : 7 lbs even and 18.5 inches long

11/29/06 (today) : 7 lbs, 6 ozs and 19.5 inches long

As his Dad so nicely pointed out, at this rate he'll be taller than his Mom in no time! We have to go back for a weigh-in next Friday since he's not back to his birth weight just yet. Of course, this makes me a little worried. I know this child is eating FREQUENTLY enough...I think he'd allow himself a permanent hook-up if I'd let him! But I just hope the QUANTITY is enough. I need to know that I'm providing him with enough! I think an inadequate milk supply might be too much for my crazy hormonal state....

Let's see...what else? Dr. Milonas (that's Elijah's doc!) sort of laughed at us when we told him that Elijah hates his crib. He said that's just because Adam and I are too nice. Maybe...but the other night, we reluctantly decided to try to let him cry himself to sleep. I laid awake for the hour and a half it took him to stop crying...and I felt like the worst mother on the face of the planet. Ugh...I wonder who this will be harder on? But I do know that he can't sleep in bed with us forever; and I know that I need to spend more nights in my bed than on the couch! Plus, I think Adam will feel so much better once he knows I'm getting some decent sleep.

Pretty much, Dr. Milonas said he's healthy and doing well. I have to say I'm pleased with our pediatrician. He's very easy to talk to and I have felt comfortable with him since the beginning. And Elijah seems to like him (at least until the shots start coming, I'm sure!). PLUS, he milked our son today. Yes, you read that right! He was explaining to us how Elijah is getting all of my hormones right now and babies go through this sort of "newborn puberty" and we shouldn't be alarmed by some of the effects...like we may see baby acne or we may see a drop or two of milk on his nipples -- then he squeezed one of them and sure enough, there was milk! I was stunned and slightly amused...Adam wasn't looking at the time and he said he's glad he didn't see it because that's crazy!

Anyway, here are some pictures!


This is Elijah trying to escape his changing table prior to his first bath at home...he hates so much to be naked!

This was afterwards...in his hooded frog towel. He looks a little happier, hey?

Elijah and Dad, all dressed after his bath. This is one of Dad's favorite outfits (it says "All Star" on the front).

This one is especially for Grandma and Grandpa Guenther...you got us these socks for my baby shower and this may be one of the last times he wears them! Either his feet are getting longer or those bird toes are!

And this one is especially for Grandma Bright...sorry about my finger on the left (I am a terrible photographer!). We got this outfit from you for my baby shower and I've been telling Adam ever since then that I couldn't wait for him to be big enough to wear it. It's still quite big (notice those HUGE cuffs on the sleeves!) but that's OK because he'll be able to wear if for awhile.

One of the quieter moments...he's a good snuggler!

quick update

This is just a quickie for everyone...

Thank you all for your prayers over the past week...it's been, well, just crazy. I guess I've never dealt well with things deviating from my "careful planning". I learned the hard way that all the careful planning in the world means nothing when God has a different plan in mind. I can safely say that since last Thursday morning, not ONE thing went according to my plan! All in all, it's OK because everything turned out OK. But quite honestly, I think my mood is a little down, partially due to all of this.

However, all moodiness aside, I am very happy to be home and continuing to recover. I have to remind myself to take it slow...I sometimes expect myself to just jump back in and feel "normal" but I'm finding that doesn't happen right away. Thank God for Adam...not only is he great with Elijah but he reminds me to slow down and relax.

bed rest sucks

I am bored...so bored...

I have actually started feeling contractions now...nothing serious however. Nothing but random contractions...but at least they are there and I know what they are. These aren't those "painless tightening feelings" that people talk about...I don't even think I felt those, although the fetal monitor said I was having them! No, these are real. I just wish they'd get closer together, and stronger. Sometimes I think I'm crazy because I'll be laying down or watching TV and I start to wait for them and look forward to them...and then when it happens, I almost WISH it would hurt! I'm not a masochist...I'm just really looking forward to some productive contractions now! But I am so thankful that at least there is some progress...

I just realized that I write with way too much of this: " blah blah blah...blah blah blah...and something something something..." I am just a big run on sentence sometimes and I think I excuse it by saying "BUT THE THREE LITTLE DOTS, YOU KNOW!"

**The above paragraph can be chalked up like a comercial: "This is your already crazy pregnant brain on bedrest...any questions??"

I have decided as well that I am glad I am due in November and not anytime between May and September. For the most part, even in Wisconsin, the weather is much too nice and I think if I had been stuck inside during that time, I might be more cranky than I already am. At least now, it's cold and cloudy. The weather men are calling for rain/snow mix late tonight and into early tomorrow. So at least I can snuggle up with the cats under some blankets and shut out early winter.

So that is my random update for now...wish I had something exciting to share but at this time, all I can say is something random with some "..." at the end!

bed rest - day 2

I am doing my best to keep a positive outlook and remain sane during this time...

I will admit it was nice to know that I didn't have to leave at 7:30am to go to work for 10 hours today...it's about 35 degrees outside! It's just very difficult to try to sit still! I'm behaving, though. It's given me a chance to have a heart-to-heart discussion with Elijah, too...it's time for him to at least START something here! If I go to my appointment on Monday and the doctor tells me again that I'm not dilated at all, I'm going to be pretty frustrated . While I was hooked up to the fetal monitor for the non-stress test, the tech and Adam both asked if I felt any contractions. Nope...and obviously if I'm having them, they're not very productive! So I told this little child of ours that it's time for him to make a decision to start working his way down. I haven't even dropped yet! Come on, Elijah! At least do that for me! I'm thinking that's what is making this whole "bed rest" thing a little trying for me...I still feel like I've got SO much time because nothing has happened so far. It's actually kinda freaky...I keep thinking I'll end up being one of those crazy talk show people who tells her story of how she didn't even know she was in labor until she was delivering her baby in the shower, on the toilet, in the car, in her sleep...no thanks! We need to leave that for the professionals! I don't think the cats would be very good nurses, either...they shed too much.

When I see my doctor on Monday, I'm telling him that it's his fault...he left town on the 4th and his first day back is Monday. I told him NOT to leave! Ok, I know it's not his fault but right now that doesn't matter to me.

I just spilled Kool-Aid on my shirt...red Tropical Punch on my white t-shirt...oh wait, it's Adam's white t-shirt! Good job, Sandy. I sure do miss having that washer and dryer in our last apartment! Oh well...maybe I'll just let the stain set in and keep it as a reminder of my journey through bed rest!

OK, I ate some lunch and now the baby's moving more. I feel better now...and a little sleepy. This is the ONE positive thing I have found about my "no work" order...I have been getting so tired about noon or 1pm every day for the past month. When I'm at work, I can't very well take a nap! So I think I will take a nap now...and everyone can wait in anticipation for my next entry. I have a little extra time on my hands so I'll keep you all updated on my progress...if not PHYSICAL progress, I can at least tell you about my progress toward the crazy lady ward of the hospital!