Friday, June 15, 2012
Pictures
I took a video of George giggling but I can't seem to add it this way. So here are some other pictures that were on the iPad. The biggest George is from today. The funky one of Michael he did some time ago. Then a baby picture of George from the first week home.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
We have a ROLLER!!
Often, during bath time, I'll put George outside the bathroom while Tony bathes Jane and Michael. Tonight, I put him there so he could kick a box. After a while, Tony called me to check out what was going on. I came back to find George was in the bedroom at the corner of the changing table kicking the diaper bag. He had somehow rolled himself over there. I walked away again only to be re-beckoned back to the room. This time I had to play "find the baby." "Keep looking and listen," Tony said. George was UNDER the crib way over near Michael's bed all the way against the wall!!
This time I sat on the floor to check out his moves. He has completed the back to tummy roll! We knew he could co from his tummy to his back and from his back to the side, but this was the first I saw the back to tummy move. Then I told Tony, "it's all over, now." To which he replied, "it was over when Michael could move!"
This time I sat on the floor to check out his moves. He has completed the back to tummy roll! We knew he could co from his tummy to his back and from his back to the side, but this was the first I saw the back to tummy move. Then I told Tony, "it's all over, now." To which he replied, "it was over when Michael could move!"
Monday, June 11, 2012
A good day
No pictures, you can use your imagination. Michael helped me roll out tortillas, today. Help is a loose term of course. He likes playing with flour. There was a small plate and a little Pyrex dish with flour in it. Michael started moving flour from the bowl to the plate. This ended up helping me with the dough because I needed a lot more flour than I thought on these tortilla dough balls. So I used the plate to press on a bunch of flour.
By the end, Michael had flour on his head, forehead, eyes, nose and chin. The one time Jane got some flour on her hands she tried to eat it. I think that stopped her from trying again.
Later, at naptime, I was doing the customary diaper check before leaving them to lay down. Michael smelled awful! I was sure he'd pooped, but the diaper was empty. I asked him if he wanted to sit on the potty. "mmm hmm!" so, into the bathroom. He wanted to be on the big white potty. I got him all set up with some books and I had to go check on someone else. I came back with George and asked if he popped. "mmm hmmm" but this can't always be trusted. He did start to pint down at his back. I said, "ya, you pooped? Let's check.". I asked him to stand and what'd ya know, HE DID!!!!!!! Michael pooped in the potty!!!!!!!!
Oh I cheered and we high fived and thumbs upped!! I told him how proud I was of him! I was so happy and I think he picked up on it. He got to flush the potty and then we called daddy to tell him the news.
What else did Jane do, today? Asked about her daddy about half a dozen times and laid on the baby brother.
What did George do? Well, after surviving the dogpile from his siblings all day, we went to the infant cognition lab at A&M. I love it. They pay us $5 to watch the baby look at things for 16 minutes. Today George was going to watch kind of a puppet show but they put a cap on him that measured something in his brain. He was SO CUTE with the cap!! That said he was the first one to use the cap, all the girls loved him. I wish I had a picture. The cap came all the way over his ears (with holes for his ears) and strapped under his chin. His whole head was covered with the cap with just his face poking through. So cute!!
Mommy? I actually got a little nap and cooked 16 mushroom burgers, divided other cooked meat into meals with potatoes, cooked the tortillas, washed and dried diapers and bath mats, cleaned dishes that built up over the weekend, and kept everyone alive.
Daddy worked hard and watched J & M while we were at the infant lab. He's awesome.
By the end, Michael had flour on his head, forehead, eyes, nose and chin. The one time Jane got some flour on her hands she tried to eat it. I think that stopped her from trying again.
Later, at naptime, I was doing the customary diaper check before leaving them to lay down. Michael smelled awful! I was sure he'd pooped, but the diaper was empty. I asked him if he wanted to sit on the potty. "mmm hmm!" so, into the bathroom. He wanted to be on the big white potty. I got him all set up with some books and I had to go check on someone else. I came back with George and asked if he popped. "mmm hmmm" but this can't always be trusted. He did start to pint down at his back. I said, "ya, you pooped? Let's check.". I asked him to stand and what'd ya know, HE DID!!!!!!! Michael pooped in the potty!!!!!!!!
Oh I cheered and we high fived and thumbs upped!! I told him how proud I was of him! I was so happy and I think he picked up on it. He got to flush the potty and then we called daddy to tell him the news.
What else did Jane do, today? Asked about her daddy about half a dozen times and laid on the baby brother.
What did George do? Well, after surviving the dogpile from his siblings all day, we went to the infant cognition lab at A&M. I love it. They pay us $5 to watch the baby look at things for 16 minutes. Today George was going to watch kind of a puppet show but they put a cap on him that measured something in his brain. He was SO CUTE with the cap!! That said he was the first one to use the cap, all the girls loved him. I wish I had a picture. The cap came all the way over his ears (with holes for his ears) and strapped under his chin. His whole head was covered with the cap with just his face poking through. So cute!!
Mommy? I actually got a little nap and cooked 16 mushroom burgers, divided other cooked meat into meals with potatoes, cooked the tortillas, washed and dried diapers and bath mats, cleaned dishes that built up over the weekend, and kept everyone alive.
Daddy worked hard and watched J & M while we were at the infant lab. He's awesome.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Concert in the park videos
Jane Dancing
George "Eating"
Michael LOVIN' IT!!!!
Jane loving the plums from the Dallas Reiter home! Don't be scared of the gag.
It gets twisty but it's still cute.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Fabulous weekend
We had great time this weekend. Saturday night we took a picnic to a free outdoor concert. The band was an Eagles cover band. I think the last time Tony and I went was when Michael was a baby. Everyone did great! We had a great dinner. George nursed fabulously. Jane played with the carseat and got out every now and then to stomp to the music. She also danced a few times. Michael was in heaven. It was the coolest thing ev-ah!
Friday evening we went to First Friday in downtown Bryan. It's a community event each month. There is often lots of live music playing. We sat near a jazz band for a few songs and Michael loved it, totally amazed. But the concert was just as exciting for Michael. He was a little stunned at the volume at first, but once he got used to it his eyes were GLUED to the stage! George eventually fell asleep with mommy. Jane eventually curled up in a sheet and fell asleep with her bottle. But Michael lasted the whole night!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
June 2
Jane is twenty months old today. Earlier this week I measured Jane and Michael on our at home height chart. The last time I measured them was January 20. Since then Michael has grown just over an inch and a half! But Jane has grown (drumroll please) THREE inches!!!!
Also, get ready for lots of pool pictures. I finally thought to look for and download a blogger app for the iPad. That's what I'm using right now. I can take pictures with the pad and immediately load them. If Tony doesn't take the iPad to work, then I can use it during the day.
Also, get ready for lots of pool pictures. I finally thought to look for and download a blogger app for the iPad. That's what I'm using right now. I can take pictures with the pad and immediately load them. If Tony doesn't take the iPad to work, then I can use it during the day.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Pool time
My alternate post title was going to be "see how well my drugs are working!?!?!?". With all kinds of positive excitement.
If you didn't know, I've been suffering pretty bad post partum anxiety and depression for quite a while. Probably since George's birth. It started as anxiety but just progressed and got worse as time went on. I was getting some treatment from progesterone therapy. It worked for a time but would wear off. I would think, "maybe I'll be better this time." Then wait longer before the next treatment, so subsequent doses weren't ever as effective as the first.
Finally, I made an appointment for myself at George's 6 month check up with our family dr. I was thinking maybe there's some sort of anti anxiety drug that could just keep me feeling even instead of all the ups and downs that were happening with the progesterone. The dr gave me a prescription for an anti depressant saying how it should also help the anxiety. He said that some people feel a difference after a few days but usually it takes 2-3 weeks to build up in your system to where you really feel good. So I walked out (crying) thinking it would still be weeks before I'd be better. Wrong. A few days was a big change!
We've recently tweaked the dose on the advice of my new psychologist (definite benefit seeing him while adjusting to the meds and to talk over all that has happened). The dr's goal is for me to "feel disgustingly normal." Awesome, I can't wait!!
Today has been proof of meds working superbly. We went to the park in the morning and met a friend. Jane ended up in a little waterway (ditch) trying to retrieve some water bottles from the water and climb up a muddy bank. She was in the water to the waist. My friend was a great help since I had George in the wrap on me at the time. Before meds, even a park visit would have been nerve wracking. A visit with lost child under the bridge would have been the end of the day. (the park has many bridges all around the playground, don't get any images of a roadside ditch or anything). I was so proud of myself by the time we were leaving. I was carrying a diapered but otherwise naked Jane while pushing the stroller as Michael basically hanged over the side of the stroller. Essentially carrying or pushing everyone. And I didn't feel like falling apart!!!!
Home. Food. Backyard play. Off to bedrooms for new diapers and rest time. This proved more difficult than usual. There were multiple rounds of poop from Michael and Jane. Michael climbing into the crib. More poop. I thought they were done so I finally left and shut the door. Between feedings of George and changing diapers I realized my hopes of an actual nap were dwindling. So, instead, I settled for listening to a relaxation app on the iPad (daddy didn't take it to work, today).
During the app I'm getting relaxed but I can hear Jane squealing. I keep thinking "just relax, she's not going to die, she'll be ok." But eventually, I get up to go check on them.
I open the door to see a naked Jane in the crib. All the blankets were on the ground outside her crib (she had done this earlier). Then I see smudges and clumps of something on her mattress. Poop. I see the diaper flopped out on her blankets. "great," I think, "poop diaper." But it's my actions of which I am most proud, at this point. I didn't fall apart. I didn't loose it with any of the kids. I didn't start crying. This big ball of anxiety and tension didn't explode in my chest. I just picked up the diaper and put it on the changing table discovering just how much poop there was. A lot. Then I put Jane on the changing table thinking I could just wipe her down. Oh no, poop all over her legs. So I take care of the diaper then take jane to the tub for a bath.
Out of the tub, new clothes on, then I put all he blankets back in the crib and pull the sheet up so it's one big ball of peed on poopy stuff. I carry it to the washer and then George wakes up shrieking probably because Michael poked him. I did fuss at Michael because I'm pretty certain he poked the baby but otherwise I was ok.
I sat down with the baby and was so amazed with myself. I just handled a situation that two weeks ago would have caused me to be a messy puddle of a mom. I called Tony and my parents to laugh about the situation.
Then, we came outside for pool time!!! With less than 1 hour to go before leaving to get Tony from work, I let them get in the pool! Just the thought of changing diapers before leaving would have prevented me from doing that a few weeks ago!
If you know a mom or you are a mom who is struggling, please ask a dr for help!!! There are drugs that are safe when breastfeeding. I think not knowing that was my major hesitation from asking for it 5 months ago. Life can be normal. It is possible. This isn't your lot in life to suffer and feel like you can't cope with normal day to day activities. I'm still a work in progress but I'm so glad I am getting help.
If you didn't know, I've been suffering pretty bad post partum anxiety and depression for quite a while. Probably since George's birth. It started as anxiety but just progressed and got worse as time went on. I was getting some treatment from progesterone therapy. It worked for a time but would wear off. I would think, "maybe I'll be better this time." Then wait longer before the next treatment, so subsequent doses weren't ever as effective as the first.
Finally, I made an appointment for myself at George's 6 month check up with our family dr. I was thinking maybe there's some sort of anti anxiety drug that could just keep me feeling even instead of all the ups and downs that were happening with the progesterone. The dr gave me a prescription for an anti depressant saying how it should also help the anxiety. He said that some people feel a difference after a few days but usually it takes 2-3 weeks to build up in your system to where you really feel good. So I walked out (crying) thinking it would still be weeks before I'd be better. Wrong. A few days was a big change!
We've recently tweaked the dose on the advice of my new psychologist (definite benefit seeing him while adjusting to the meds and to talk over all that has happened). The dr's goal is for me to "feel disgustingly normal." Awesome, I can't wait!!
Today has been proof of meds working superbly. We went to the park in the morning and met a friend. Jane ended up in a little waterway (ditch) trying to retrieve some water bottles from the water and climb up a muddy bank. She was in the water to the waist. My friend was a great help since I had George in the wrap on me at the time. Before meds, even a park visit would have been nerve wracking. A visit with lost child under the bridge would have been the end of the day. (the park has many bridges all around the playground, don't get any images of a roadside ditch or anything). I was so proud of myself by the time we were leaving. I was carrying a diapered but otherwise naked Jane while pushing the stroller as Michael basically hanged over the side of the stroller. Essentially carrying or pushing everyone. And I didn't feel like falling apart!!!!
Home. Food. Backyard play. Off to bedrooms for new diapers and rest time. This proved more difficult than usual. There were multiple rounds of poop from Michael and Jane. Michael climbing into the crib. More poop. I thought they were done so I finally left and shut the door. Between feedings of George and changing diapers I realized my hopes of an actual nap were dwindling. So, instead, I settled for listening to a relaxation app on the iPad (daddy didn't take it to work, today).
During the app I'm getting relaxed but I can hear Jane squealing. I keep thinking "just relax, she's not going to die, she'll be ok." But eventually, I get up to go check on them.
I open the door to see a naked Jane in the crib. All the blankets were on the ground outside her crib (she had done this earlier). Then I see smudges and clumps of something on her mattress. Poop. I see the diaper flopped out on her blankets. "great," I think, "poop diaper." But it's my actions of which I am most proud, at this point. I didn't fall apart. I didn't loose it with any of the kids. I didn't start crying. This big ball of anxiety and tension didn't explode in my chest. I just picked up the diaper and put it on the changing table discovering just how much poop there was. A lot. Then I put Jane on the changing table thinking I could just wipe her down. Oh no, poop all over her legs. So I take care of the diaper then take jane to the tub for a bath.
Out of the tub, new clothes on, then I put all he blankets back in the crib and pull the sheet up so it's one big ball of peed on poopy stuff. I carry it to the washer and then George wakes up shrieking probably because Michael poked him. I did fuss at Michael because I'm pretty certain he poked the baby but otherwise I was ok.
I sat down with the baby and was so amazed with myself. I just handled a situation that two weeks ago would have caused me to be a messy puddle of a mom. I called Tony and my parents to laugh about the situation.
Then, we came outside for pool time!!! With less than 1 hour to go before leaving to get Tony from work, I let them get in the pool! Just the thought of changing diapers before leaving would have prevented me from doing that a few weeks ago!
If you know a mom or you are a mom who is struggling, please ask a dr for help!!! There are drugs that are safe when breastfeeding. I think not knowing that was my major hesitation from asking for it 5 months ago. Life can be normal. It is possible. This isn't your lot in life to suffer and feel like you can't cope with normal day to day activities. I'm still a work in progress but I'm so glad I am getting help.
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