eeeeeeewwwwwwwww

OK, yuk...that's what I have to say. I really don't want to elaborate too much but let me put it this way -- I have VERY FEW clothes that actually fit me! It's not like I'm trying to fit into way small clothes, either. I just wanted something comfy to wear around the house and guess what? EVEN THE CLOTHES WITH AN ELASTIC WAIST AND STRETCHY FABRIC LOOK PRETTY GROSS RIGHT NOW. I guess I shouldn't really care...I'm pretty sure Elijah doesn't mind if I look like a cow. And I know the cats don't care. But I do...*sigh*

On a different note, I think I'm going to take down our Christmas tree and decorations today. There is no snow on the ground and it doesn't feel very holiday-like or festive anymore. Besides, my parents surprised Adam and I by having two bookshelves put together in our apartment for us when we got home from Iowa. Thanks again, Dad and Mom! So I need to make some room in the living area for them so I can get the books on them...right now, the cats seem to think the shelves are sleeping areas for them! Come to think of it, anything new we bring in here becomes a "cat nap area" for a short time! Crazy felines...

I think maybe I'm going to take a nap first...Elijah finally decided to start to fall asleep at about 3:15am last night/early this morning. Yeah, he got that from me I think...I can go to bed at any given time and it takes me about 45 minutes to actually fall asleep. Since Adam had to be at work at 7am this morning (means he leaves at about 6am), I kept Elijah out of the bedroom until I was sure he wasn't going to scream (the ONE downfall to having him sleep in our room I guess...but it makes feeding him easier and I think he likes being closer to us!). So once his little eyes stayed closed for about 10 minutes, I started to move into our bedroom. He woke up, of course, but he was sooooooo tired! I wonder what makes humans fight sleep sometimes? Ok, so anyway, we went through the whole ritual of him spitting out his pacifier about 30 times...and I had to keep turning the vibrating thing of his pack-and-play's bassinet back on for the next half hour or so...and he needs his back rubbed before he can sleep...and then he started snoring (seriously!)...but then he turned his head over and it was quiet. TOO QUIET...I'd start to fall asleep and then I start thinking "Why can't I hear him breathing?". So I'd sit up and put my hand on his back...yup, still breathing! I usually do this about 2-3 times and then exhaustion kicks in. So, he probably fell asleep shortly after 4am...I think I looked at the clock at 5am for the last time.
I am truly a spaz!

SO ANYWAY, that's why I think I'm going to nap quick. Elijah is snoozing in his swing and it is yucky outside (sun hasn't been out at all today) so it's a perfect time to just sleep for an hour maybe. Then it'll be feeding time and almost time for Adam to be coming home from work. Tonight needs to be a bath night for Elijah, too. Adam and I think he may be starting that 6-week old growth spurt because he's been eating more frequently again. However, he seems to be pooping everything out...I don't know where he puts all of it INSIDE because it hardly fits in his diapers when he poops it out! Wow...that may have been too much info for everyone!

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!