Category Archives: mommyblogging

All Aboard the Baby Night Terror Train

Song Lyric of the Day:

Sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare / Somebody pinch me, your love’s too good to be true / (Turn the lights on)

No sooner had we gone to bed last night than Coraline woke up to be changed and fed. It was Rich’s turn to check on her; within minutes of him heading to her room, I heard her screaming like I’ve never heard her scream before. When I got to her room, Rich was trying to console her, to no avail. I tried to calm her, also to no avail. Based on the sheer terror she was exhibiting, we figured she had to be experiencing night terrors. According to BabyCenter, babies don’t experience night terrors until the age of about nine months, but we’re stumped as to what else it could have been. Anyone else out there experience anything like this with their almost-four-month-old? She was looking at us, but it was like she didn’t see us. Nothing we did calmed her down: holding her, rocking her in her glider, walking down the hall with her. She screamed so loudly she even set off the glass-break sensor, setting off our house alarm in the middle of the night. This went on for almost a half hour. We finally got her calm enough to lay her down in her crib again; she slept for a few hours after that, probably out of sheer exhaustion. I’m cautiously optimistic that it won’t happen again tonight, but we’ll see. Fingers crossed we all have a better night tonight than we did last night.

Saying her bedtime prayers

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My Happy for the Day: Coraline Hits the Gym

This is one of my favorite things these days: watching Coraline play on her gym. She “talks” to the flashing, smiling sun at the top of it, the one that blinks in time with the music. She’s just now started grabbing the toys that hang from it and staring at her reflection in the mirror. Filmed on 1/5, 11, when she was 104 days old.

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Dear Coraline

Dear Coraline,

As of one o’clock this morning, you are now officially a week old. And even though you’re only a week old, your dad and I feel like we’ve already known you for a lifetime — like we’ve known you forever (as opposed to your dad saying he and I have been together forever). Since your arrival last Thursday, we’ve marveled over even the slightest thing you’ve done. Your little blinks, sighs, coos, smiles, and smirks melt our hearts every single time. We’ve officially turned into those people who say how becoming a parent changes everything in your life for the better, because, well, for us it definitely has. Being more tired than we’re used to as we all adjust to a new schedule has been totally worthwhile. Sure, we no longer know what day it is unless we consult our DVR, but we couldn’t be happier that we’re able to spend this time at home getting to know you. The three of us holed up in our house, spending that time together, have been some of the happiest days your dad and I have ever known.

We waited years for you to come along — you are, after all, our 10th Anniversary Commemorative Baby© — and you were definitely worth the wait (even if you didn’t like the day we picked for you to be born on, leading to you being born a day later than planned). Then again, your dad and I noticed throughout our entire pregnancy how headstrong you are. I’m surprised the doctor didn’t find a little periscope in there with you because you always knew whenever anyone besides me was trying to feel you kick and move; you’d immediately stop whatever you were doing as soon as anyone else placed their hand on my belly. At least you’d occasionally validate your dad’s efforts with a kick or two.

You’ve adapted remarkably well to your new environment, and are an impressively mellow baby. You really only cry when you need to be changed or when you’d rather stay asleep on either me or your dad instead of being placed back in your bassinet. You don’t even flinch whenever our dogs bark, which is still more often than we’d like. Of course, the dogs have essentially become your dogs as they officially took on guardianship duties. Caleb and Troubadour constantly mother-hen you, with Caleb’s metamorphosis into Nana from Peter Pan almost complete (he can’t stand not checking on you at least a hundred times a day). As for the cats, well, they’re adapting, too. Belle seems fondest of you, probably because she knows you have round-the-clock access to dairy. At least you’ve got one big, very concerned dog watching out for you, right?

As I’m writing this your dad and I are in the living room, where we can see you sleeping peacefully in your bassinet via the video monitor your great-aunt Bea got you. I know you’ll wake up in about an hour to be fed and changed and cuddled. You’re a world-class snuggler, and I cherish every second of those snuggles when you’ve just eaten and you coo as you fall asleep on my chest. You also enjoy those same snuggles with your dad after he’s fed you or just when you need to be soothed; you really love his voice and how safe he makes you feel. He calmed you down within seconds after your birth when I could only listen to what was going on from behind the blue surgical curtain. It really is all the little things that add up — how you feel comforted by and safe with us, how you knew from the moment you were born exactly who we were, and how your now-hazel eyes have been taking everything in since day one.

I know I also speak for your dad when I say how I can’t wait to see the little girl you’ll become someday — who you’ll look like, what your voice will sound like, what your interests will be. Because we’re already so in love with the amazing, one-week-old baby you are and look forward to embarking on the journey we’ll be taking as a family.

love,

Mommy

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39 Weeks Down: Endgame

Song Lyric of the Day:

Oh, oh, I want some more / Oh, oh, What are you waitin’ for? / Take a bite of my heart tonight

I’ve never thought of myself as the most hospitable person. Sure, I’m a decent hostess whenever we have anyone over for dinner or a game night. But overly accommodating? That’s not me. And yet it seems my uterus is THE place to be, at least in Coraline’s opinion. She has made herself really comfortable. Really comfortable. As in she’s now using grappling hooks to stay on the inside. I also strongly suspect she now has a DVR and something on season pass she doesn’t want to miss, probably some reality show she knows I wouldn’t approve of.

Today we had another checkup. Coraline now weighs approximately 6 pounds, 12 ounces. And is happy as a clam. Since it turns out my cervix is half thinned-out and I’m at 2 centimeters (woohoo! only 8 more to go!), our doctor let us go ahead and pick a day to be induced. So barring any surprises from Coraline, it looks like her birthday is going to be this Wednesday. As in two days from now. As in Rich and I are now in the happy/scared/anxious/can’t-wait-to-meet-her/scared shitless phase of impending parenthood. Everything is pretty much in place here at the house for her arrival. Tonight we even went to the sheriff’s office to have the carseat base in Rich’s truck secured; we’ll be bringing her home in the truck since my Xterra’s AC is on the fritz and it’s just too hot for a baby to be in right now (I can barely tolerate it at this point — this summer has been miserably hot).


And now the ball is in Coraline’s court. We already know how headstrong our little girl is. Did we choose a day she’ll like for her birthday? Or will she decide to come on her own before then? This is the endgame, Coraline — you have until Wednesday morning to decide. Regardless of when you arrive, your mommy and daddy couldn’t be more excited.

You just know I’m going to be totally useless at work tomorrow.

39 weeks!

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Labor Watch 2010/37 Weeks Down

Song Lyric of the Day:

Will things ever be the same again? / It’s the final countdown / The final countdown

As of 4:01AM Sunday morning, Rich and I started Labor Watch 2010. I can pinpoint the time because 4:01AM Sunday was exactly one minute after my first intentionally missed dose of Niphedipine (aka Procardia). Since being discharged from the hospital on August 7, I’d been taking a pill every four hours to keep the contractions at bay. Yes, every four hours, even overnight, not just waking hours. My doctors said to stop taking it once we hit 37 weeks, so now I’m no longer taking the magic contraction-stopping pills and Coraline is free to come whenever she wants. Of course, as much as we want to meet her, we still hope she stays in the oven a bit longer. But we’ll see.

We spent the majority of our long holiday weekend nesting. First up was our Special Delivery class on what to expect for labor and delivery (freaking the hell out, that’s what). Then a big trip to Babies “R” Us to pick up some last-minute necessities and tweak our registry a bit more. Then it was time to assemble Coraline’s bassinet, which is now stationed in our bedroom, and put together her stroller and bouncer, and finish up the list of people to send thank you cards to. You know — nesting. So we’re feeling a bit more prepared now, although I’m still scared about the upcoming labor. I just keep reminding myself that as long as she arrives safe and healthy, the pain and her father’s broken hands will be worth it.

We wrapped the weekend up with our last date night as a couple — no bambina to get home to yet. Thanks in large part to the debit card I won from a Half Off Depot Knoxville Facebook promo a few weeks ago, Rich and I enjoyed a divine dinner tonight at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. I swear, I ate my weight in food. Totally worth feeling like I was going to pop afterward.

And that’s how our long holiday weekend went. Now we wait …

37 weeks and one day on our big date night

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Tiny Hats and Child-Sized Glasses

Song Lyric of the Day:

All around my hat i will wear the green willow / And all around my hat for a twelve month and a day / And if any one should ask me the reason why i’m wearing it / It’s all for my true love who’s far, far away

Steeleye Span / “All Around My Hat

I meant to post much earlier in the day, but I got brave, mustered up some energy (bedrest pretty much sucks the life out of you), and headed out to run errands today. Anyone who knows me knows I’m really antsy to get out if I voluntarily head to the supermarket. Grocery shopping ranks on my list of least-favorite things to do, right after making phone calls and taking my dogs to the vet to get their bums squeezed. But out I ventured into the heat with my on-the-fritz car AC, which is why I passed out on the couch pretty much as soon as I got back. I’ve mastered the art of the couch nap, even timing it for when the dogs are down for their afternoon naps. Since it’s impossible to sleep when the boys are all “rawr-rawr-RAWR-WOOFWOOFWOOFAROOOOOOO” (OK, that’s mostly Troubadour) when they wrestle or fight over toys.

“He Stole My Seahorse!” from Patricia Lee on Vimeo.

As for yesterday’s followup appointment, I’m thrilled to announce that nothing is physically wrong with Coraline. It seems that the poor kid has just inherited her mother’s small head. As my high-risk OB put it, “I look to the parents, and, well, you don’t have the biggest head, you know.” So now my little girl will face the same hat issues I’ve had my whole life: baseball caps always need to be set on the smallest setting possible, I only wear hats in winter out of desperation and a need for warmth, and I generally look like a toothpick balancing a giant mushroom cap anytime I put on a hat. Fortunately, her intercranial development looks great — great brain development, great bloodflow. Which is good, since she’ll have to use her smarts to learn how to deal with her genetic inability to look trendy in hats.

Something she might find more amusing than her noggin’s inability to support a hat is that, even today, I can wear children’s eyeglasses. And they fit perfectly. The price of a pair of children’s glasses is always significantly cheaper than adult glasses, too. Were it not for that Dora the Explorer logo emblazoned on the lenses and arms, I’d buy a pair for myself.

And guess what — I finally got cleared to go back to work. On Monday. With breaks every three hours. Here’s to being paroled from house arrest!

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Coraline/Bedrest Update and a Belly Shot for Sharon in Virginia

Song Lyric of the Day:

It just takes some time / Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride / Everything, everything will be just fine / Everything, everything will be alright (alright)

Jimmy Eat World / “The Middle

I’m now on my tenth day of missing work. As of Friday’s followup appointment to my hospital stay, I’ve been cleared for light activities. As in, not doing much more than I was doing when I was on bedrest with bathroom privileges. I managed to do some laundry over the weekend which took me about 10 times longer than it normally does since I couldn’t just load the basket to capacity. Instead I made multiple trips with small piles of clothes from the hamper to the laundry room and made multiple trips with those small loads back to the bedroom when they were done. See how efficient I am? I got four loads done that way. Of course, half the clothes I washed are still neatly laid out in our bedroom, waiting to be folded or hung up and put away. Maybe I’ll take care of that later today. Baby steps and all with the light activity, you know.

I had another followup appointment yesterday (to the one on Friday — odd, right?) and today have ANOTHER appointment, this time back out at UT. Seems my OB found Coraline’s biophysical profile measurements a bit off and wants UT to recheck as they have much better ultrasound equipment. I of course started to panic, but Baby Doc reassured me that he just wants things rechecked; if there were cause for real concern, he would tell me, which I appreciate. My doctor friend also talked me off the ledge when I gave her an update last night. So I’m off to UT later today to get more detailed ultrasounds and another biophysical profile. I’ve had so many ultrasounds this pregnancy that we’ve lost count of how many photo printouts we have at this point. I think it’s somewhere around 40, 50. Maybe more. I just know it’s enough to warrant buying a small photo album just for Coraline’s ultrasound pics. Here’s one from yesterday. You know you’ve gotten alot of ultrasounds when they throw some 3-D ones in for free.

First time we’ve ever seen her with her hand in/pressed against her mouth.

And just for my friend, Sharon, in Virginia, here’s my latest belly shot. This is me at 34 weeks:

Thanks to Rich for taking my weekly belly shots.


And that’s what’s going on with me and the baby for now. Cross your fingers for me that today’s appointment finds Coraline healthy and happy. Well, we already know she’s happy on account of yesterday’s non-stress test. I’m pretty sure she was trying to karate-chop her way out. Baby girl is READY to be on the outside.

TiVo viewing for the last three days: four eps of Futurama, two and a half eps of Warehouse 13, half a Hex, 1 ep of Hung, 1 ep of The IT Crowd

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I’ll Take Climbing the Walls for $1000, Alex

Song Lyric of the Day:

We’re in the jailhouse now / We’re in the jailhouse now

Soggy Bottom Boys / “In the Jailhouse Now

Oh my God, bedrest is BORING. Not to mention it’s a special kind of hell for me. I almost never take sick days, preferring to work from home when ill so as not to waste a single precious PTO day. Even when I’m on the verge of death and actually using a PTO day for illness, I’ll usually still manage to at least do a load of laundry, tidy up a room — something. I don’t like doing nothing. I don’t do well doing nothing. So being ordered to do nothing is a whole new ballgame for me. Why is it so hellish? Because I’m in my new house, where things still need to be unpacked, organized, and put away. And I can’t do any of that right now. It’s very frustrating, but it has to be done. Or not done, in this case. I’m well aware things could be a lot worse, like Coraline could’ve arrived too early and be in the NICU as I write this (and thank God she’s not), but I can still whine about how bored I am.

At least now I can make some serious headway on my DVR queue.

UPDATE: Today’s TiVo viewing: 3 eps of Freaks and Geeks, 1 ep of The Closer, 1 48 Hours Mystery, and two White Collars. And I squeezed in a two-hour nap on the couch, too.

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Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Song Lyric of the Day:

Going home / Going home / Going home / On our way back home

Goldfinger
/ “Going Home

Today was my first full day of being sentenced to bedrest (WITH bathroom privileges — booyah!). I actually got home yesterday afternoon after our baby shower. I got released from the hospital just in time to make it to the shower, albeit a half hour late. Not that anyone was complaining. We literally didn’t know until about a half hour before the scheduled start time if I was even going to get out of the hospital yesterday, much less in time for the baby shower. As late as Friday afternoon, it was sounding like I’d still be in the hospital today, so I’m really happy to be out.

Now I’m home alone, since after Rich took our dear friend (and Coraline’s godmother), Caren, to the Chattanooga airport, he is once again at the A-frame working. And now I need to accept that I’ve been ordered by my doctor to not. do. anything. Which is going to be quite an adjustment. But I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my daughter safe inside for a bit longer. No matter how boring that might be.

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A Down Day in the Hospital

Song Lyric of the Day:

Can we pretend that airplanes / In the night sky / Are like shooting stars / I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)

B.o.B (featuring Hayley Williams) / “Airplanes

I’m still in the hospital, still waiting for these preterm labor contractions to stop. The medicine is obviously not working like we’d like it to, although my cervix is still intact, so that’s something. Today was a really down day for me. After three days of doing my best to stay strong, I finally let myself cry and, boy, did I cry. I cried on the phone with Rich first thing, I cried when my friend Cynthia stopped by, I cried when my sister came by, I cried when my dad came by, I cried again on the phone with a few other people. Then I cried myself to sleep for a much-needed nap. I actually managed to not cry when Rich and Caren came by for a visit tonight, although I very easily could have.

I know things could be worse — and I am so grateful they’re not — but this is still really hard for me to deal with. I don’t understand why my body is doing this nor what’s going to happen next. I guess I’ll just keep praying for a miracle to happen overnight and that my exams in the morning will show my contractions have finally stopped. In the meantime, I think I might go have another cry.

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